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October 10, 2007
PEIA Update and Public Hearings
Each year the PEIA Finance Board holds public hearings to take comments on
the proposed financial plan for the coming plan year. This year the finance
board has proposed few changes. The proposed plan includes:
- no premium changes for state agencies, colleges, universities and county
boards of education
- a ten (10) percent premium increase for non-state agencies
- no medical benefit changes
- eliminate Carelink and Health Plan PPO options
- eliminate managed care regions
AFSCME is pleased there are no scheduled increases planned for either active
or retired participants. Our Union is glad that the board has chosen to spend
down the surplus and not increase premiums as we have been working towards at
Finance Board meetings and during Legislative Sessions.
We are very fortunate to have Perry Bryant and Elaine Harris as a members of the
PEIA Finance Board. Perry worked for us during the 2007 session as a lobbyist on
PEIA and other health care issues. He is one of the foremost authorities on
health care in the state. Elaine is an important member of the WV AFL-CIO Public
Employees coalition that includes AFSCME, CWA and UMWA as well as a Vice
President of the WV AFL-CIO. Elaine and Perry advocate tirelessly for our
members and we could not have a better representatives on the board. There are
other good members on the Finance Board as well, just not enough.
This is just another example how all of us working together can achieve our
goals. Listed below you will find the locations and dates of the public
hearings. We encourage you to go to the hearing location if you have any
questions regarding the plan. A link will be added as soon as the plan's details
are posted at PEIA.
There are several events planned around the hearings.
ADVANTRA FREEDOM PRESENTATION
At 5:00 p.m. in each location, PEIA staff will present an overview of the
Advantra Freedom plan for Medicare retirees, explain the benefits, and take
questions.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Also, PEIA will provide customer service in each location from 4-6 p.m. If you
have questions about medical, prescription or life insurance benefits, come
early and get answers from the PEIA staff.
PUBLIC HEARING
Registration for the hearings will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the hearings start at
6:00 p.m. If you wish to testify at the hearing, you must indicate that at
registration.
The hearings will be held as follows:
Monday, November 5, 2007
Tamarack Theatre
One Tamarack Park
Beckley, WV
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Civic Center, Little Theater
200 Civic Center Drive
Charleston, WV
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Marshall University Medical School
Harless Auditorium
1600 Medical Center Drive
Huntington, WV
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
WV Northern Community College
1704 Market Street
Wheeling, WV
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Ramada Inn
20 Scott Avenue
Morgantown, WV
Monday, November 19, 2007
Holiday Inn
301 Foxcroft Avenue
Martinsburg, WV
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