Now that it’s October, I’m proud to provide an update on something we’ve worked hard to bring to fruition: Missouri Farm Bureau Health Plans.

For years, I’ve traveled the state hearing from farmers, small-business owners and self-employed Missourians who felt they were running out of options. They wanted quality health coverage for their families, but the cost continued to rise.

Two years ago, a young farmer told me he wanted nothing more than to make his living on the family farm. Like many of us, agriculture wasn’t just a job to him. It was where he wanted to raise his family and build their future.

But the cost of health care made that difficult. Like many young farmers, he accepted an off-farm job that provided health benefits.

Think about that. We want to keep the next generation on the farm, but a young man was forced to leave it, not because he couldn’t grow a crop, raise livestock or make the farm work, but because his family needed affordable health coverage.

I ran into him again recently. This time, the smile on his face almost told the story before he even spoke. After Missouri Farm Bureau Health Plans became available this year, he found an option that worked for his family. He was able to leave his off-farm job and return to the farm full time.

He isn’t alone. In our first year, Missouri Farm Bureau Health Plans have helped hundreds of Missouri families find affordable health coverage. Behind every one of those families is a story: a farmer, an entrepreneur, small-business owner or a family simply trying to make the numbers work.

That choice becomes especially important during the 2027 open enrollment period.

Missourians shopping for coverage on the individual marketplace are once again facing higher costs. For the first time, Missouri Farm Bureau Health Plans are an option for eligible members. One Missouri Farm Bureau family of five recently enrolled in a health plan that provides full comprehensive coverage while reducing its monthly costs by nearly $2,000, a savings of more than $20,000 annually!

To be clear, our plans aren’t for everyone. They are not traditional health insurance, and eligibility and coverage vary based on an individual’s circumstances. But for those who qualify, they might be worth considering.

Unlike ACA Marketplace coverage, Missouri Farm Bureau Health Plans aren’t limited to a specific open enrollment period. Eligible Missouri Farm Bureau members can apply at any time. However, open enrollment is a natural time for families to sit down, look at what they are paying, examine their coverage and consider whether another option better fits their needs.

That’s all we’ve ever wanted: to give Missourians another choice.

When we began this effort several years ago, we weren’t focused on numbers on a spreadsheet or winning a legislative battle. We were focused on people. We were talking about that young farmer who wanted to come home to the farm and families who shouldn’t have to choose between pursuing their livelihood and protecting their loved ones.

This year, when Missouri families sit down during open enrollment and ask, “What are our options?” Missouri Farm Bureau Health Plans can be part of that conversation.

If you’re shopping for health coverage, I encourage you to take a look. Talk with your local Missouri Farm Bureau agent and decide what’s right for your family.