As family farmers across the country prepare for sky-high insurance premiums or the loss of their health care, House Republicans are prioritizing the ultra-wealthy over the health and survival of rural communities.
Over 25% of the agriculture industry workforce relies on health insurance purchased through the individual marketplace, making them one of the groups most devastated by Republican cuts.
Health care cuts are just another strike from Republicans as rural communities are already struggling with massive financial losses driven by Trump’s chaotic tariffs that have left many facing bankruptcy. Farmers are having to pick between keeping their family businesses going or finding other jobs just to have health care access.
DCCC Spokesperson Bridget Gonzalez:
“Americans shouldn’t have to choose between going to the doctor or feeding their families — from rural America to big cities — every community is feeling the impact. Republicans’ disdain for hardworking families is clear as day, and they’ll have to answer for it in November.”
NPR: Farmers are about to pay a lot more for health insurance
- It’s been a tough year for farmers. Between falling prices for commodity crops like corn and soybeans, rising input costs for supplies like fertilizer and seeds, the Trump tariffs and the dismantling of USAID, many in agriculture won’t be profitable this year.
- James Davis, 55, who grows cotton, soybeans and corn in north Louisiana, said he doesn’t know how he and his wife will afford coverage next year, when their insurance premium will quadruple, jumping to about $2,700 a month.
- That 27% rate is much higher than the overall population — only 6% of U.S. adults have non-group coverage.
- Without major intervention from Washington, farmers say they’ll have to choose between being uninsured or leaving the farm work behind for a job that offers health insurance.
- Work-related deaths are seven times higher for farmers than the national average.
- In a 2022 study, Becot found that more than 20% of U.S. farmers had medical debt exceeding $1,000, and more than half were not confident they could cover the costs of a major illness or injury.
- Among dairy farmers, more than 40% lack health insurance — one of the highest uninsured rates throughout all agricultural sectors.
- Some farmers might deliberately choose to not grow their businesses, because too much profit might cause them to lose access to health care subsidies.
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