A Senate committee Monday approved a proposal that would allow the Florida Farm Bureau to offer largely unregulated health coverage to farmers.
The Republican-controlled Commerce and Tourism Committee voted 6-3 along party lines to back the bill (SB 480), filed by Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach.
The bill would clear the way for “medical benefit plans” that would not be subject to the same state and federal regulations as health insurance.
DiCeglie said the bill would provide options to farmers who might have difficulty getting health insurance.
“Farmers know what’s best for farmers in the state of Florida,” DiCeglie said.
But Democrats raised questions about what would be covered in the plans, such as whether they would provide coverage to people with preexisting conditions.
Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, said the bill has a “noble goal” but expressed concerns about the details of the coverage.
“We want to make sure it is good coverage, as well,” Smith said.
If the bill clears the Senate Rules Committee, it would be ready to go to the full Senate.
A House version (HB 497) has been approved by two subcommittees.
