Stay Informed

A total of 1,942 members responded to Indiana Farm Bureau’s healthcare survey, and as a result of that survey and other input from members, expanding health care benefits to INFB members has become a legislative priority.

The purpose of the survey, which was conducted in August and September, was to help INFB evaluate members’ healthcare needs, the best options to address those needs and whether it’s feasible for INFB to offer any sort of healthcare program to its members.

“Some things are clear from the survey,” said Mark Thornburg, INFB director of legal affairs, who has been coordinating INFB’s research on the healthcare issue.

Respondents identified affordable health care as important to the profitability of their operation.

Working owners, owner-operators, entrepreneurs and individuals, particularly those who are self-employed, were identified as a target demographic.

“INFB’s efforts to identify solutions continue,” Thornburg said.

“One thing is evident: Many of our members are looking for more affordable health benefit solutions, and we have investigated multiple ways to offer alternatives.  The input from our members is helping narrow down the path for INFB to do the most good for the most members,” Thornburg said.

Most of the responses were electronic. Links to the online version of the survey were emailed to all members who signed up to receive alerts from VoterVoice, INFB’s voter advocacy app, and members could also participate by going directly to INFB’s website. More than 200 people filled out and mailed in the printed survey that ran in the September issue of The Hoosier Farmer.