Tax Credit Expiration Driving Up Health Insurance Costs for Farmers

The expiration of enhanced tax credits is driving premiums higher for the self-employed and farm families. “In 2025, they were getting $850 a month to offset their health insurance premium,” said Lance Boyer, sales director of financial products, North Dakota Farmers Union. “It’s going to go down to $550 in 2026. $300 a month doesn’t sound like much, unless you’re in a household where it’s $50,000, $60,000 of income. Where do you find $4,000 in your budget overnight?” Boyer said the situation has left farmers with few immediate options. “You can’t pull the dollars at the eleventh hour and expect people to pay two and three times what they were paying for their health insurance while they try to figure this stuff out and get it in place.”