By Ain Chiké
Ain is a Farmer Services Coordinator at Georgia Organics. She currently leads progress with connecting farmers and ag workers to Kaiser Bridge Health Insurance and is the creator and manager of the Georgia Organics Apprenticeship Program.
Farming is inherently hard work and managing risk becomes a daily practice. Farm owners who are part of the farm’s labor force cannot afford to take days off due to sudden illness or injury. The time away equates to loss of income and increased medical bills. The same is true of farm workers. In 2017, Georgia Organics partnered with Kaiser Permanente to bring metro Atlanta area farmers affordable healthcare under the Kaiser Permanente Bridge Healthcare Program.
The Kaiser Bridge Program supplies uninsured, low-income individuals and families with subsidized high-level health insurance. This program helps to “bridge” the gap for agricultural workers who do not qualify for Medicaid and find the monthly premiums of the Affordable Care Act burdensome.
“...the coverage limit [of the program] has been expanded beyond the previous two-year coverage rule. ”
Pictured above are some farmers felllowshiping at a tour of Woape Farm (woh-ah-pay) in Houston County. All attendees of our 2023 Georgia Organics Conference in Perry, GA were invited to chose from eight surrounding farms to tour before heading back home. Photo by Jenna Shea Photojournalism.
Since the program’s inception, Georgia Organics has helped over 50 farm owners, farm workers, and their qualified dependents receive healthcare. Our farmers have saved thousands of dollars on unexpected medical fees, follow-up care, and annual physicals. In some cases, participants who would normally ignore a lingering ache, progressive cough, or twisted joint, were able to schedule a visit at a Kaiser Permanente office to receive top tier medical care. This helped them get back on the farm in good physical condition and prevented their ailments from exaggerating.
“Former two-year beneficiaries are encouraged to re-apply through Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.”
LOVE IS LOVE COOPERATIVE FARM, Worker-owners from left to right: Joe Reynolds, Judith Winfrey, Demetrius Milling, Monica Ponce, and Russell Honderd. Photo courtesy of the farmers’ website.
One of our Farmer Members, Hanna Brown, a fifth-year farm worker and current part of the Love is Love farm crew, spoke about an often overlooked benefit of being in the program and insured when she stated that
“…being a part of the Kaiser Bridge Program has greatly improved my peace of mind. With as many healthcare concerns that could come as a direct result of farm work, knowing that I could easily and affordably receive healthcare has been an enormous relief.”
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?
Eligible individuals:
Farm owners, farmer employees (this includes undocumented workers), agricultural contractors, those who work in forestry, those in a farm mentorship program, etc.
Live or work in Bartow, Butts, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Lamar, Newton, Paulding, Pike, Rockdale, Spalding, or Walton counties of Georgia.
Meet annual or monthly income requirements of the program.
Maintain membership with a Georgia Organics or SAAFON for the duration of enrollment.
PROGRAM UPDATES
Past participants and those familiar with the program should be aware that the coverage limit has been expanded beyond the previous two-year coverage rule.
WHEN AND HOW TO APPLY
The upcoming open enrollment period will begin in Nov. 2023 and close in Jan. 2024. Former two-year beneficiaries are encouraged to re-apply through Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.
If you read this article after the deadline, re-apply between Nov. 2023 and Jan. 2024 during the open enrollment period.
New to Kaiser Bridge? Email gofarmerservices@gmail.com to sign-up for open enrollment updates and learn more about the program for you and your farm employees.
READY TO JOIN OR RENEW YOUR GEORGIA ORGANICS MEMBERSHIP TODAY? Find the right membership level for you at www.georgiaorganics.org/membership.
To learn more about Georgia Organics visit georgiaorganics.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube by searching (Georgia Organics).