WV Legislature URGENTLY Summoned for PEIA Crisis Session in July – Workers Brace for Skyrocketing Insurance Costs!

As summer approaches, employees in West Virginia are bracing for an increase in the share of their paychecks that goes toward health insurance premiums. This comes alongside possible special sessions in July aimed at addressing the cost and sustainability issues faced by the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) in managing health care expenses.

During the PEIA finance board meeting last Thursday, Householder indicated that the agency has been collaborating with Office of the Governor and PEIA head Patrick Morrisey in anticipation of a special session.

“I know currently … we are working providing data to the governor,” Householder said. “There’s been no decision on what to do, just providing data, having roundtable discussions. That’s all we’re doing right now.”

Householder said PEIA claims that Governor Morrisey is intending to call a special session sometime around mid July to address PEIA’s concerns.

Beginning July 1, PEIA will increase state employee premiums by 14% and local government employee premiums by 16%. Additional payment and copay fees will also rise. Retired employees will also see a 12% increase in their premiums.

PEIA has been cited as the lead driver for the increase, attributing rising health care costs, especially inflation on prescription GLP-1 drugs used for treating obesity and diabetes, as the main contributing factors.