40 Square Cooperative Solutions Board of Directors Approves Launch of Health Plans
SAINT PAUL, Minn. (PRWEB) December 05, 2017 -- 40 Square Cooperative Solutions (40 Square), a health care cooperative providing farmers the control to manage their health care, is pleased to announce the Board of Directors has approved the release of its health plan consortium for 2018, solidifying a decades-long mission to offer cooperative health plan choices to members of the Minnesota farm community.
“We’ve been working to get a health plan cooperative in the state of Minnesota for more than 15 years,” said Jeff Nielsen, President and CEO of United Farmers Cooperative, an agricultural supply cooperative based in Winthrop, Minn. and one of the founders of 40 Square. “Board approval of the health plan consortium means health coverage through 40 Square will be a reality in 2018 and farmers can be confident that the cooperative will be a viable option in the years ahead.”
The campaign to bring a health plan cooperative to Minnesota gained momentum in 2016 when multiple insurance carriers departed from the individual market, leaving many farmers across the state without health plan options. In January, the state legislature identified the need for a new health plan solution and passed legislation making this long-time effort a reality. 40 Square began organizing to be ready for the 2018 open enrollment season, which ends December 15, with effective dates of coverage beginning January 1, 2018.
“Minnesota’s farm families have won a big victory,” said Charlene Vrieze, Project Manager of 40 Square. “For the first time in the state’s history, farmers can own their health plan and make decisions about the type of coverage that is provided. We’ve put control and choice back into the hands of the production agricultural community that works so hard to keep Minnesota strong.”
Individuals can enroll directly online, through their insurance representative or through an agent-partner of 40 Square. In-person meetings with agents will be held the weeks of December 4-8 and December 11-15 to expedite enrollment. Dates, times and locations are:
Dec. 4-8, 11-15
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
United Farmers Cooperative, 705 E 4th St, Winthrop, MN 55396; and
UFC Farm Supply, 801 Hwy 284 S, Waconia, MN 55387
Dec. 4, Dec. 6-8, Dec. 11 and Dec. 13-15
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Crystal Valley Co-op, 721 W Humphrey, Lake Crystal, MN 56055
Dec. 4-5, Dec. 8, Dec. 11-13 and Dec. 15
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Meadowland Farmers Coop, 101 First Street East, Lamberton, MN 56152
For more information about 40 Square, visit 40Square.coop or call 844-205-9579.
About 40 Square Cooperative Solutions
40 Square is a health plan cooperative providing Minnesota farm families the control to
manage their health care. The initiative was founded by Cooperative Network, the Minnesota and Wisconsin state trade association of cooperatives, and United Farmers Cooperative (UFC), an agricultural supply cooperative based in Winthrop, Minnesota.
Colleen McGuire, Colleen McGuire Communications, +1 651-338-8822, [email protected]
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