Farmers Struggle With Insurance Costs

"Those who purchase insurance in the non-group market are more likely to face financial strains due to medical costs than other insured people"


The cost of health care in the U.S. is putting a pinch on many family farmers and ranchers who struggle to pay high premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, a new report has found.

About 90 percent of the more than 2,000 farmers and ranchers who were surveyed said they had some sort of health coverage, according to the 2007 Health Insurance Survey of Farm and Ranch Operators released Thursday.

However, many complained of high premiums, and more than a quarter said high out-of-pocket insurance costs were creating financial problems, the report found.