The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee advanced a measure that seeks to allow rural farmers and ranchers more access to health care coverage options.
St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Nick DiCeglie introduced a bill (SB 480) that is part of a massive piece of legislation geared toward improving infrastructure, health care access and other critical projects in rural communities in Florida.
“This bill helps to provide affordable health coverage options for Florida farmers and ranchers, who face challenges to find affordable health care options in today’s market,” DiCeglie said. “This coverage is part of the ‘Rural Renaissance‘ of Florida’s smaller and less densely populated regions where access to health care may be an issue.”
Kissimmee Democratic Sen. Kristen Arrington asked if the plans were meant to be supplemental or the only form of insurance.
DiCeglie noted that the bill follows something that has been implemented in Tennessee for over 75 years, where a nonprofit organization in the farming industry offers farmers memberships. The organization essentially has the mechanism in place where then they can offer a tier-type of health insurance to individuals.
“So, very simply, you have the low tier, mid-tier and upper tier, so this isn’t a supplemental,” DiCeglie explained. “This is insurance for farmers in the state of Florida who have a very difficult time getting insurance at all. … So, this is giving those individuals the option to partake in a health insurance option that are significantly affordable and way more accessible than what they’re seeing right now.”
DiCeglie said the plans would work similar to what’s already available, pointing back to the tier system.
“This bill really speaks to the framework, the structure of a specific nonprofit organization in the state of Florida,” DiCeglie said. “That would, if this bill were to pass, would have the ability to offer that type of health care, and I do want to also point out that currently in the state of Florida we have … religious nonprofit organizations that are also authorized to offer a very similar type of insurance.”
Arrington asked what the payments for the services would look like, and if individuals would pay the doctor directly, or be reimbursed. DiCeglie said the bill does not make allowances for how payments would be made but noted he would be happy to have conversations around that.
Orlando Democratic Sen. Carlos Smith said he thought the bill was a noble effort to get those who do not have health care coverage much-needed insurance.
“I think it’s a noble goal to try to get coverage to people who don’t have it,” Smith said. “We want to make sure that it’s good coverage as well.”
Smith asked whether a person would be able to still get coverage if they had a preexisting condition like cancer, to which DiCeglie responded that they would be unable to.
“So, in the core of it … this particular plan would not be required to accept that individual if they, in fact, have cancer,” DiCeglie said. “That individual would have the ability to go into the affordable health care market, with those plans, but I want to point out that this is a plan that has been very successful in Tennessee. I think this is a plan that is certainly not a mandate. You know, if an individual has that preexisting condition, they do have other options besides this particular plan.”
DiCeglie added that if a person joins the plan and then is diagnosed with a condition, they would not be kicked off simply because they had discovered the condition.
“I think this gives those farmers options,” DiCeglie said. “It gives them options at a level that is a lot more affordable than what they’re experiencing right now and obviously it’s difficult for many of us … who live in densely populated parts of the state like you and I, Sen. Smith, to actually relate to some of these challenges that our farmers face. So, this bill will provide those options.”
Jacksonville Democratic Sen. Tracie Davis asked what the cost to the state would be. DiCeglie clarified that there would not be any cost to the state.
“This bill simply creates health insurance options for individuals who are part of a nonprofit organization in the farmer industry, and clearly the eligibility of those organizations is well defined here in the bill and it’s very narrow,” DiCeglie noted. “Again, we’re trying to increase access to health care for farmers who live in rural parts of our state … and must be members of this specific organization.”
DiCeglie pointed out that it would not be the nonprofit that offers the health care plans directly; they would be offered through a third-party administrator.
Port Orange Republican Sen. Tom Wright supported the bill and said it would be a good thing for farmers.
“I think this is a great bill, I think the farmers have been kind of forgotten about in the state of Florida,” Wright said. “They are the folks that built this state, and we’ve kind of let them do their own thing and try to survive. So, I don’t see any cost to the state, and I think it’s a great idea and I hope it turns out to be as good as I think it will.”
The committee passed the bill by a vote of 6 to 3. It will now move to the Senate Committee on Rules.
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