A Look at Farm Health Insurance Cost Trends

It’s common knowledge that health insurance costs have been moving in only one direction over the last decade or so. That’s been particularly tough on farmers, who have seen cost increases of around 80% over the last 100 years. For farm couples under 65, health insurance now comprises 1/4 of total family living expenses, while the number’s slightly lower for farm families under 65. Medicare helps absorb some of those costs for operators over 65, but given the net farm income picture in the last 8 years, health insurance costs have ballooned relative to other expenses, especially. The good news is overall costs have begun to flatten in the last year, according to a new study.