Hearing: PEIA insurees grateful for grace period, concerned about rising costs
With a proposed 2019-20 benefits plan that has no premium increases and features some enhancements in benefits, speakers at Tuesdays Public Employees Insurance Agency public hearing focused more on the need to find a long-term funding fix for the state-run health insurance program.
Those making up a comparatively small turnout at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Little Theater Tuesday evening expressed thanks for a second straight year without cuts to their PEIA coverage, but also voiced their frustration over the lack of progress by the governors PEIA Task Force to find a dedicated funding source for PEIA.
Weve got two years of grace, but theres no funding coming down the pike, and were about to have a bare-knuckle brawl in the next election, Boone County teacher Karrena Rouse told members of the PEIA Finance Board.
Kanawha County teacher Jay ONeal said he was concerned that possible funding sources suggested at Task Force public hearings around the state including raising the corporate net tax or the severance tax on natural gas were rejected outright by legislative leaders.
Read more: https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/hearing-peia-insurees-grateful-for-grace-period-concerned-about-rising/article_0d220f9e-5e5d-55a0-9c61-e80a894dee16.html