John Wojszynski had been paying $190 per month for health insurance through Farmland.

Saturday, September 01, 2001

John Wojszynski had been paying $190 per month for health insurance through Farmland. The insurance became all the more important when his wife was diagnosed with cancer.

Nearly two months after fire shut down the plant, his insurance through the company expired Friday. His only option is to pay more than $500 per month for COBRA, which allows his family to continue being covered without lapse.

&uot;We have no choice as far as I know,&uot; Wojszynski said.

Wojszynski, along with about a dozen other Farmland employees, told his story to Sen. Paul Wellstone, who was in Albert Lea Friday to talk with workers at the Albert Lea Union Center and meet with city and Farmland representatives.

Employees told Wellstone that without jobs, and now without affordable health insurance, their situations are getting worse.

Bob Hillman, a boiler operator at Farmland for 40 years, told Wellstone his wife has brain tumors and he has kidney cancer. His family must decide whether to pay for COBRA or make a payment on their van, which they bought before the fire.

&uot;Every decision we have to make is based on my income, and it’s no more,&uot; Hillman said.

&uot;It gets to be some days where you don’t know where to turn,&uot; he said. &uot;And a lot of people are proud people. They don’t want to go to the Salvation Army or go to see Collette (Turcotte at Community Action).&uot;

Wellstone asked the workers to seriously consider getting whatever assistance they could.

&uot;The fact is that people are in this situation through no fault of their own. I hope that doesn’t make anybody reluctant to get the help they need,&uot; he said.

The situation also illustrates America’s need for universal health-care coverage, Wellstone said.

&uot;It should be that the one thing we have in this advanced economy is health-care coverage for everybody,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s insane. I can’t believe we don’t have universal health-care coverage.&uot;

Farmland workers have few options other than COBRA. MinnesotaCare, the state’s low-income insurance program, won’t take the workers for several more months. If employees let their coverage lapse, they could be at a disadvantage if they get their jobs back or take new ones.

&uot;I’ve talked to a lot of guys who can’t afford this COBRA,&uot; said Mike Lee. &uot;If you don’t pick up COBRA and let it lapse, then if you have a preexisting condition (new insurance plans) don’t have to pick it up for a year.&uot;

After meeting with workers, Wellstone headed to city hall for a closed-door talk with Farmland officials, Mayor Bob Haukoos and City Manager Paul Sparks. Sparks said afterward that it was mostly an informational meeting for Wellstone, but added that preliminary discussions continued on an offer designed to help Farmland rebuild in Albert Lea.

In the meantime, employees continue to struggle with uncertainty.

&uot;It think the typical thing for the workers is the unknown of the future of the plant,&uot; said union leader Derby Olson.

Farmland has said it will decide where to rebuild by Oct. 1, and will announce its decision in the weeks afterward.

Employees hoped that announcement will come as soon as possible.

&uot;I think they should tell everyone Oct. 2,&uot; Lee said.