CLEVELAND - We hear it everyday, the cost of healthcare keeps going up, but how would you like to get a $457,000 increase in your health insurance cost? Well, that's what White County Commissioners are facing.
Commissioners heard that news recently when Matt Bidwell, with MSI Benefits, the county's insurance representative, presented a report on county employee benefits coverage.
The health insurance increase is a big blow for the commissioners as they work on next years budget, and Commission Chairman Travis Turner says there's no way that will work and the board will have to look at some other plans.
Some of commissioners showed their displeasure when they were told much of the increase is primarily the result of new federal healthecare rules. The commissioners requested that Bidwell work with county manager Carol Jackson and clerk Shanda Smallwood to come up with information on other insurance providers and their rates.
Turner said they will have to answer some tough questions during the next week. Among them: how much of the cost increase will the county adsorb and how much will the employees have to share. He said each employee can help keep healthcare costs down by participating in county-sponsored wellness programs and work to control any future health problems.
Wednesday
June 25th, 2025
2:13PM
