A bill that would allow the South Dakota Farm Bureau to offer a health insurance program to its members is scheduled to be heard in the South Dakota House Ag Committee this week. Farm Bureau President Scott VanderWal says there are many producers who either don’t have any health coverage or can’t afford any.

He says the health insurance program they want to offer is modeled after one used by the Tennessee Farm Bureau. VanderWal says if approved they’ll be partnering with a Tennessee Farm Bureau subsidiary that’s licensed and regulated in South Dakota.

VanderWal says Tennessee’s Farm Bureau has had a high level of acceptance into their insurance program.

VanderWal says SB 87 passed out of the Senate Commerce committee earlier and last week was approved in the full South Dakota Senate on a 19 to 15 vote.