PEIA Hikes Approved
PEIA Hikes Approved Save Email Print
Posted: 5:28 PM Dec 4, 2008
 Last Updated: 9:24 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%.
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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.
Posted by: State Employee on Dec 8, 2008 at 08:12 AM
I myself did not not would have I voted for Manchin again. There are approx 200,000 state employees and only a small amt even make over $30,000 a year and yet Manchin sees fit to give himself a $55,000 raise while the staff of the state pinch pennies and receive welfare benefits, that is if you don't make $30-$50 more that the income guidelines, which is the case with most workers. He has allowed the insurance increase and yet ni mention on a reasonable increase in pay to help us pay for our healthcare, is that not what he was pushing for his re-election, Healthcare for everyone, yea, everyone that can afford it that is. If they had a surplus they why are we getting increases. I thought I was going a good thing by getting off welfare and going to work for the state, boy was I wrong, working for the state is a joke and embarassment. We have state hospitals that have serious employee retention problems and this could be resolved with better paying jobs. Why did you put JM back in!!!
Posted by: fed up on Dec 5, 2008 at 12:42 PM
let's just strike! or start looking for jobs in ky and ohio... i guess the govenor needed a pay raise to compensate for the hike in health insurance...what about the rest of us???? (and yes i can complain about the govenor, i didnt vote for him!)
Posted by: STATE WORKER on Dec 5, 2008 at 12:38 PM
THATS JUST GREAT AND AS ALREADY SAID WHAT STATE WORKER MAKES $36,000. MOST OF US QUALIFY FOR WELFARE BENEFITS, ITS DISGUSTING. WE ARE ALSO TAXPAYERS AND TELL ME, WHERE IS ALL OF THE STATES MONEY GOING? NOT TO THOSE OF US WHO ARE OUT THERE COLLECTING THE STATES MONEY. WHERE WOULD THIS STATE BE IF ALL OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES WHO MAKE UNDER 36,000 WENT ON STRIKE. CHECK OUT THE STATE EMPLOYEE PAY LIST AND SEE HOW MANY MANCHIN'S ARE ON THE PAYROLL AND LOOK HOW MUCH ALL OF THEM MAKE. NOT ONLY IS MANCHIN'S DAUGHTER GIVEN DEGREES THAT SHE DIDN'T EARN, JOE HIMSELF IF GETTING A RAISE THAT HE HASN'T EARNED.
Posted by: Debbie on Dec 5, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Unbelievable! Excess money left over from last year, the state is ok financially, what is wrong with this picture? Teachers need to take their degrees, their families, their future, and move across the state line!
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 5, 2008 at 09:53 AM
The governor keeps raising insurance and taxes, but he has stopped all raises for all state employees. Well at least I can say I didn't vote for him. Half of the State employees that are complaining voted him back into office. He didn't do anything to help us in his first 4 years what made you think he would now?
Posted by: kevin on Dec 5, 2008 at 09:33 AM
the state needs to offer other plans from other insurances and let the workers deceide what one to chose I know we can find it cheaper,wv has stuck it to the workers again, they just took the little pay raise they did give us, come on wv wake up.
Posted by: SUSIE on Dec 5, 2008 at 08:17 AM
I AGREE WITH "FED UP", I WORK AS A TEACHER AND SEE MY NEIGHBORS ,WHO NEVER WORK, BUT HAVE THE BEST MEDICAL CARE. THEY HAVE THE STATE "GOLD CARD" FOR PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO WORK THE SYSTEM. I WORK 5 DAYS A WEEK AND CAN BARELY AFFORD TO HAVE ANY EXTRAS BUT THESE PAIN PILL/NERVE PILL FREAKS DON'T WORRY BOUT PAYING A DOCTORS' BILL, AND THEY GET ALL THEIR MEDICATIONS FREE!! HOW COME???
Posted by: State Worker on Dec 5, 2008 at 08:15 AM
Who makes $36,000 a year that works for the state? It is sad when the Gov's raise is higher than most state workers incomes. It is a sad shame
Posted by: Joe on Dec 5, 2008 at 07:31 AM
One thing that you failed to mention was that PEIA has a surplus of money from the previous year, I believe was in the neighborhood of $116 million dollars and are taking another chunk out of Public employees raises. Public employees in the the state of West Virginia have no voice and no recourse, we can't even appeal decisions like these.
Posted by: Allen on Dec 4, 2008 at 11:36 PM
What could we do to stop all these problems about the cost of healthcare in our country? If only we could figure out a way to make it affordable.Oh wait a minute,there are a group of people that have come up with a solution.They are called EVERY COUNTRY BUT US! Canada,England,France,Germany and on and on,they have universal healthcare and guess what...they are healthier than the U.S.They rank better than us in all major categories,just google world health rankings for proof! I can't afford to pay for my own personal fireman and policeman.I can't afford to pave I-64.And I can now not afford health insurance.If you don't have your health then you don't have anything.
Posted by: Dummer Don on Dec 4, 2008 at 10:13 PM
What difference does it make if retired? All retirees are on fixed income, whether you are 65 or 35. IDIOTS!
Posted by: Retired on Dec 4, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Best thing to do, is leave the state and you can easily find teaching positions in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, less taxes, free insurance, better pay. The Governor's salary goes from 95,000. to 150,000. in January. What a slap in our face.
Posted by: They need to cut on Dec 4, 2008 at 08:01 PM
some of the salaries over there. The legislature will be getting an ear full come this session I am sure. they have no valid reason for this rate hike when they play the role of not insurance but wannabe gods. I for one wished the governor would privatize this for the employees of the state as they keep taking and never provide adequate coverage for those of us in the plan.
Posted by: Fed up on Dec 4, 2008 at 07:35 PM
I just love this!!! I have a Master's degree, have worked for the school system for 10 years, am raising 3 kids on my own, am eligible for my kids to have free lunch at school, and the state is going to charge me more to make sure my family is healthy. What a crock!!!! Why don't they drop some of the loser welfare hounds, who get their pain pills and nerve pills free every month and maybe give the people who actually WORK in WV a break!
Posted by: Mary on Dec 4, 2008 at 06:51 PM
Shame on the PEIA board. Now retired state employees will have to decide on food or health care! A few years ago we took health care instead of pay raises, now we might as well as had a pay cut. Jobs outside the state are looking better and better! Where will WV find it's teachers now? DON'T TEACHER IN WV, IT DOESN'T PAY!!!!!
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