WISCONSIN FARMERS UNION
117 West Spring St.
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729

For Immediate Release:
August 2, 2003

For More Information Contact:
Sue Beitlich, 608 769-7625
hilcrest@mwt.net

Farmers Union Leader Commends Federal Health Insurance Legislation

WESTBY, WI – Today in a joint news conference with Congressman Ron Kind and the Wisconsin Farmers Union, President Sue Beitlich commended Rep. Kind for legislation he has recently introduced. The Small Employer Health Benefit Program Act of 2003 would give
Wisconsin farmers and their employees, half of whom are either uninsured or under-insured, access to the same group health insurance program offered to federal government employees.

Beitlich, a Vernon County dairy farmer, said “Farmers are looking for any and all assistance to help them with access to quality health insurance. We’re particularly looking to the State and Federal governments for help in the health care crisis that rural America is in.”

The Farmers Union has received many calls and heard personal stories from many of their members, one of whom is Janet and Julian Nelson of Barron County. In 1976, the Nelson’s received $9.10 per hundredweight for their milk and paid $92 per month for a family health insurance policy, according to Beitlich. Today, they receive about $10 per hundredweight and pay $1,400 per month for a policy with two $2,500 deductibles on both Mrs. Nelson and her husband. The high deductibles act as barriers to preventive care.

Beitlich told Kind that the WFU has testified before the State Assembly Insurance Committee and the Senate Agriculture, Financial Institutions, and Insurance Committee this past month in support of Assembly Bill 313 and Senate Bill 202. The Farmers Union leader also urged both committees to support Assembly Bill 129 that would open the state’s Badgercare health insurance program for low-income individuals to more low-income farmers. Currently, depreciation of farm equipment is added back to net farm income, putting many low-income farmers over the threshold for entry into Badgercare, she said. “With farm income at historically low levels, many of our young farm family’s would qualify for this coverage if this change were made”, Beitlich said.

Wisconsin Farmers Union members have the opportunity to lobby Congress at a 3-day Fly-In to Washington, DC September 7-10. “We will be pleased to support this legislation and do whatever we can to help move it through Congress” Beitlich said. She thanked Congressman Kind for his initiative and his understanding of the crisis family farmers and rural Americans are going through.

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Wisconsin Farmers Union, a member-driven farm organization, is committed to enhancing the quality of life for family farmers, rural communities and all citizens through educational opportunities, cooperative endeavors and civic engagement.