Although a lot is made of the cost of quality health insurance to rank-and-file workers across the nation, it is employers -- big and small -- who are paying the heaviest price to provide its employees with health care.

If they don't provide it, they risk not attracting quality employees who will likely seek a job elsewhere. If they do, they pay out the nose.

Lin Copelin, who along with husband Ed owns Norman-based Copelin's Office Center, said providing health insurance to her 35 or so employees is "extremely expensive," yet something she feels the company owes its employees. She said her company pays between $9,000 and $10,000 per month for employee health insurance premiums.

"It's a huge burden but a necessary one," Copelin said. "I think it's important to give your employees that service -- it's the right thing to do."

But not all small businesses provide health insurance solely because it means doing the right thing.

Mike Bergey, president of Bergey Windpower Company, said his Norman-based company provides health insurance because it wants to keep the employees it has.

"It's a competitiveness issue," said Bergey, whose company employs about 30 people. "In order to attract quality employees, it's something that's a necessity.

"At the end of the day, they're (employees) more important than the costs associated with health care."

Janice Fox, director of human relations for Norman-based First American Bank, echoed Bergey's sentiments regarding employee retention. She said her company pays 100 percent of its employees' premiums, a measure she said is aimed at attracting and keeping the best workers possible.

"We're a smaller bank," Fox said. "It's just something we have to do in order to compete with the larger, national banks we're competing with here."

Bergey said his company pays $8,500 monthly for insurance. Fox said First American Bank, with 170 employees at nine banking locations, shells out around $70,000 each month. Along with Copelin, all three say it's vital to shop around to keep a company out of a relationship with a provider whose rates get out of control.

"It's one of our largest operating expenses and it's uncontrollable," Bergey said. "There's nothing much we can do other than change carriers when their increases get out of line.

"And we have changed carriers a number of times over the years."

Fox said FAB, with 140 out of its 170 employees participating in the program, has been with Aetna for the past two years. She also said that doesn't mean the bank wouldn't switch if it comes down to it.

"We use brokers and they put it out to bid every year, regardless," Fox said. "I think it definitely helps if they know you're out there looking around."