In this episode, host Sabrina Halvorson speaks with Michael Standaert about the looming expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits and how this policy shift could lead to significant increases in health insurance costs for North Dakota farmers.
“This is the family business, and that's how they provide health insurance for the family. And now all of a sudden to see the potential for that to increase 75 percent… that's got to be very difficult.” — Sabrina Halvorson, NDNC CEO
They break down the financial implications, including estimates of a 75 percent rise in premiums for some families, and discuss how this burden adds to an already challenging economic landscape shaped by weak commodity prices, rising input costs, damaged grain storage, and lost markets in China. They also touch on the expiration of the Farm Bill extension and the government shutdown, highlighting the compounded uncertainty facing rural communities.
Key Topics Covered:
- Impact of expiring ACA enhanced tax credits on farm families
- Potential 75 percent increase in health insurance premiums
- Broader economic pressures on farmers including reduced market access and increased costs
- Declining commodity prices and the collapse of soybean exports to China
- Grain storage issues due to infrastructure damage and harvest timing
- Expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill extension and its effects on support programs
- The complexity of trade relations with China and its long-term effects on North Dakota agriculture
- The emotional and operational toll on farming families amid policy instability
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Farm Aid offers a free and confidential hotline at 1-800-FARM-AID (1-800-327-6243), where farmers can talk to someone who understands the pressures of agricultural life. The hotline is open Monday through Friday, 9am to 10pm ET.
For 24/7 crisis support, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). You can also dial 988 to connect directly to a trained crisis counselor.
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