Are there any group health insurance plans for homesteaders, farmers or small business owners? Health insurance for individuals is way too expensive for me.

-- hector rodriguez (hector@wabcmail.com), January 10, 2002

Answers

Yes. Check with any local farming cooperative you might belong to (or could belong to if you joined), as well as a good local independent insurance agent. If you belong to Farm Bureau ($70 a year or so membership dues) they have a health insurance plan and are a national organization, so should be in your area.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), January 11, 2002.

I pay only $20 to the Farm Bureau and get health insurance through them. Each state is different, though. You need to find a group you can belong to which has an insurance plan. In Kentucky there's a plan for artists/craftspeople. The local Chamber of Commerce might be aware of such groups.

-- Katherine in KY (KyKatherine@Yahoo.com), January 12, 2002.