Wisconsin farmers will have more options for health insurance with the introduction of the Farmers' Health Cooperative of Wisconsin.

The plan, which was unveiled last week, pools the collective power of farmers and agribusinesses around Wisconsin in an effort to cut costs and improve access. It was made possible by Co-op Care legislation passed in 2003 and signed into law by Gov. Jim Doyle that allowed formation of buying cooperatives for health insurance.

Farmers long have had difficulty finding affordable health insurance because they don't have the power of numbers and because they work in a dangerous business. Some estimates show that more than 18% of the state's farmers are uninsured, Bill Oemichen, chief executive of the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives, told the Journal Sentinel's Amy Rinard. In families that do carry insurance, it has been common practice for a spouse to find work off the farm to get it, which drains resources from the business.

Farmers and their families, their employees and the owners and employees of farm-service businesses will be able to enroll in the program. The cooperative plans to offer six health insurance plans, with coverage effective April 1. The cooperative plans to offer both individual and family coverage and to include coverage for workplace injuries and prescription drugs.

By pooling their risk, farmers should be able to increase their buying power and stabilize rates. With a broader solution to the twin problems of access and cost still a ways off, this new cooperative is a welcome step for Wisconsin's farm families.