PEIA Hikes Approved
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Updated: 9:24 PM Dec 4, 2008
PEIA Hikes Approved
The more than 200,000 people who rely on West Virginia's Public Employees Insurance Agency for health care can expect higher monthly premiums or out-of-pocket expenses after June 2009.
Posted: 5:28 PM Dec 4, 2008
Reporter: WSAZ and the Associated Press
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The more than 200,000 people who rely
on West Virginia's Public Employees Insurance Agency for health
care can expect higher monthly premiums or out-of-pocket expenses
after June 2009.

The program's Finance Committee voted Thursday to approve rate
changes to address rising costs.

But the committee shelved proposed benefit changes, following
criticism from hundreds of enrollees at public hearings held
throughout the state last month.

Plan members also opposed the rate hikes, but officials say they
mark the first increase in three years.

The higher costs vary.

Tobaco-free active employees who make $36,000 annually will see
monthly premiums rise $3 to $13.

Retired state employees under 65 will have an 11% increase, while retirees over 65 won't see premium hikes, but their out-of-pocket
maximum will go from $500 to $750.

Non-state employess who have PEIA Insurance will see an average increase of about 12%.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Flunky on Dec 28, 2008 at 12:51 AM

"FLUNKY" - That's what I feel like saying what my job title is from working with the state for 32 years and only make $22,000. People hired now, makes more than I do for less time and job knowledge. The longer you work there, the DUMBER you become I guess. It's sad when you are a 'DEDICATED' STATE EMPLOYEE (which are very hard to come by these days) for caring people who love working with the patrons and visitors and townspeople that visit the STATE OF WV. You will hear thousands of Thank Yous from them on a job well done, but for what? We need our pay raised just as much, if not more, than some of the state workers that set around and decide our fate. We need food, as well as Healthcare, Medicine and Clothing for our children that we cannot afford to buy. How does children & adults on welfare get FREE HEALTH & DENTAL and ours suffer? Somethings very wrond here!!!!!!!!!!!! Help make us feel PROUD to be WV EMPLOYEES. Give us a fair raise. Some would be better than none.
Posted by: Still very Concerned on Dec 12, 2008 at 02:16 PM

If you are concerned about the constant erosion of benefits and ever increasing premiums, support your retirees group or union. PERSA would be a good place for retirees to start. PERSA is $1 a month. It’s open to actives too. Go to www.peiawatch.wordpress.com to find various groups. Go the rallies in Feb. Call & write all the delegates, not just your own, as many are on a number of committees that can help. Legislative interim meeting dates December 7 – 9. Benefits are being shredded away bit by bit, year by year & the plan bears little resemblance to the under which most were hired. Ever increasing copays, increasing drug copays ($50 on some), escalating premiums, loss of traditional coordination of benefits, & forcing Medicare retirees of Original Medicare (while the private Medicare companies reap the profits), have eroded benefits beyond recognition. Many can not afford to even use the insurance due to copays with no cap, that do not apply to deductible or Out of Pocket Maximum.
Posted by: Very Concerned on Dec 12, 2008 at 09:14 AM

No worker public or private should ever loose the benefits they earned. The PEIA’s projected increase in premiums over the next 4 years totals 57% for active employees & 64% for retirees. They should quit saying there hasn’t been a premium increase in 3 years, unless they tell the whole story. Yes they did not raise premiums in 3 years, but just a short 1 1/2 years ago they increased copays on brand name drugs not on their list from $30 to $50 and forced Medicare retirees off Original Medicare, and onto private Medicare Advantage. They also when from traditional coordination of benefits to “carve out,” which is a decrease in benefits. They should not use employee premiums or their 80/20 match to fund their unfunded liability, that is the state’s responsibility, that they should have be doing all along. Also they should not take away benefits to make their liability less, that is not funding their liability, it’s a failure to provide the very benefits for which they were liable.
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