Open for business: 40 Square Cooperative Solutions health plan now available for ag trade associations, cooperatives

40 Square recognizes and appreciates the complex health plan challenges faced by members of agriculture trade associations and cooperatives. For years, 40 Square has been approached by Minnesota agricultural trade associations (ATA) and cooperatives (co-op) asking if it was possible to offer 40 Square as a health care option to their membership.

Outside of their members having to invest in 40 Square on their own, it was previously not possible – until now.

This fall, 40 Square is proud to offer the state’s agricultural trade associations (ATA) and cooperatives, the ability to join 40 Square.

“We’ve are extremely excited to announce this news with the larger agricultural community,” 40 Square Executive Director Char Vrieze said. “We’ve worked for so long to see this become a reality, and we’re eager to begin the ability to offer our health plans to members of ag trade associations and cooperatives.”

As a result of becoming an ATA/Co-op member of 40 Square, trade associations and cooperatives are able to provide their members – should they meet the qualifications – the ability to join 40 Square with no stock investment cost. An ATA/Co-op member would receive the following benefits:

  • Co-branded logo on ATA/co-op members’ 40 Square Health Plan identification cards
  • Recognition on the 40 Square website
  • Features in our quarterly newsletter and eNews updates
  • An invitation to our annual meeting
  • Co-branded mailings to ATA/co-op members, minimally twice a year, to promote the 40 Square offering
  • Recognition by the ATA/co-op membership that their association/co-op recognizes and cares about the challenge of access to additional quality health plan options and is willing to make an investment on their behalf
  • A differentiating factor in retaining and attracting future members

For members of ATA/co-op who are also considered employers, there are certain criteria per Minnesota law, to become a participant of the 40 Square Health Plan. To be eligible for the health plan ATA/co-op employer members, must meet the following qualifications:

  • Be actively involved in production agriculture in Minnesota and/or either file Form 1065 or Schedule F with their income tax return, OR
  • Be a business that receives at least 25% of its income from providing its services to production agriculture. This provision also includes farm corporations.
  • Have a minimum of one “Common Law” employee. In general, this would be someone who is provided a W-2 by the business. This does not have to be a full-time employee. For example, it could be a spouse who handles the business books.
  • Remain enrolled on the health plan for three consecutive years, or may receive a financial penalty, per Minnesota state law

ATA/co-op eligible members who meet the above requirements and choose to enroll with 40 Square will receive the following benefits:

  • Members would become a Class A Patron Voting member of 40 Square, without a financial stock investment, yet have a voice in the cooperative and the health plan
  • Access to health plan options, tailored to the agricultural community with features such as:
    • Broad local and national provider and pharmacy network through Aetna
    • Superior personal customer service
    • 24-hour Nurse Line
    • Telemedicine benefit available 24/7, with optional mental health and dermatology offerings
  • Access to optional group-priced life, dental and vision
  • Reduced or fee-free HSA accounts through SouthPoint Financial Credit Union or Spire Credit Union
  • Access to a variety of benefits, services and tax-advantaged accounts through our partner Total Administrative Services Corporation (TASC)

Investment as an ATA/Cooperative Member

To become a member of 40 Square Cooperative Solutions, ATA/co-ops must purchase $2,500 in Class B stock. In order to provide the benefits and services to ATA/co-op members, there is an annual fee based upon the number of agricultural members in your association/cooperative.

Under 500 eligible agricultural employer members $1,500
500 – 999 eligible agricultural employer members $2,500
1,000 – 1,499 eligible agricultural employer members $3,500
1,500 – 1,999 eligible agricultural employer members $4,500
2,000 – 2,499 eligible agricultural employer members $5,500
2,500 – 3,000 eligible agricultural employer members $6,500
Each additional 500 eligible agricultural employer members + $1,000

“We are extremely excited to offer organizations to join 40 Square to provide their members with potential additional health plan options, giving their members a peace-of-mind they will have access to comprehensive member-owned, member-governed health plans tailored to their industry,” 40 Square Board Chair Robby Gieseke said.