The Alabama Legislature on Thursday (May 1) gave final approval for Alabama Farmers Federation to sell health care plans to its members, a first-of-its-kind proposal in the state.
House Bill 477, one of the biggest issues of the session, pitted Alfa against some of the state’s health care establishment, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama and the American Cancer Society.
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Proponents said the plans would be a financial benefit to struggling ranchers and crop producers; opponents said the unregulated plans look like health insurance, without the same protections as traditional plans.
“For me, this is a freedom of contract issue,” Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said on the Senate floor Thursday afternoon prior to that chamber’s vote that sent the bill to Gov. Kay Ivey.
Economic challenges
Orr sponsored a similar bill last year and Alfa and supporters have worked, and made changes, to round-up support for the health plans that have been approved in about a dozen other states.
Alfa President Jimmy Parnell called Thursday a big day for farm families.
“With farmers facing the worst economic challenges in 40 years, passage of Alfa health plans legislation provides hope for the survival and sustainability of these family businesses,” Parnell said. “The engagement of Alabama Farmers Federation members — from phone calls and emails to multiple trips to the State House — demonstrates the importance of this issue. This bill will have a positive impact on Alabama agriculture and small businesses for generations to come.”
The bill passed 32–2–2.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Mary Sell and originally published by Alabama Daily News.
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