White County votes 3-2 to go with Alliant Healthcare

CLEVELAND - Health care cost is one of the biggest items most have to deal with and the White County Commissioners know that too well. After spending a large portion of their called meeting Monday afternoon on the topic, commissioners approved an employee benefits package with Alliant Healthcare.

What made that decision more difficult is that in addition to the premium commissioners were told they have to add an additional $140,000 because of requirements associated with the Affordable Care Act.

After the meeting, Commission Chairman Travis Turner, trying to understand the affordable part of this affordable care system said, "The citizens of our county need to know that's where a lot of our tax money is going - to pay for fees related to the Affordable Care Act. I'm sorry, on a personal level, when the county provides insurance to its employees and we get taxed or fee'ed by the federal government, and we provide insurance, there's something wrong in our country when that's happening."

Commissioners approved a health reimbursement arrangement provision that will help county employees help meet high deductible rates.

The vote for the Alliant coverage was not unanimous. Two of the commissioners wanted to go with an insurance plan submitted by Blue Cross Blue Shield.