SENATE
HOUSE
JOINT
BILL STATUS
STATE LAW
REPORTS
EDUCATIONAL
CONTACT
home
home
Introduced Version House Resolution 5 History

   |  Email
Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted

HOUSE RESOLUTION 5

(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Armstead, Nelson, Ambler, Anderson, Atkinson, Barrett, Blair, Boggs, Brewer, Butler, Byrd, Canestraro, Capito, Caputo, Cooper, Cowles, Criss, Dean, Deem, Diserio, Eldridge, Ellington, Espinosa, A. Evans, E. Evans, Fast, Ferro, Fleischauer, Fluharty, Folk, G. Foster, Frich, Gearheart, Graves, Hamilton, Hamrick, Hanshaw, Harshbarger, Hartman, Hicks, Higgenbotham, Hill, Hollen, Hornbuckle, Householder, Howell, Jennings, Iaquinta, Isner, Kelly, Kessinger, Lane, Lewis, Longstreth, Love, Lovejoy, Lynch, Marcum, Martin, Maynard, McGeehan, Miley, C. Miller, R. Miller, Moore, Moye, Overington, Pack, Paynter, Pethtel, Phillips, Pushkin, Pyles, Queen, Robinson, Rodighiero, Rohrbach, C. Romine, R. Romine, Rowan, Shott, Sobonya, Sponaugle, Statler, Storch, Summers, Sypolt, Thompson, Upson, Wagner, Walters, Ward, Westfall, White, Williams, Wilson, and Zatezalo)

[Introduced February 7, 2018]

 

Requesting that the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) Finance Board maintain its current financial plan for the coming year.

Whereas, On December 7, 2017, the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) Finance Board (the Board) adopted the PEIA financial plan for the coverage of health care and health costs for Plan Year 2019 (the 2019 Plan), which begins July 1, 2018; and

Whereas, The 2019 Plan differs extensively from the current financial Plan in many particulars; and

Whereas, The 2019 Plan significantly increases costs to many Plan members as the result of those differences;

Whereas, Among the differences between the plans resulting in these increased costs are changes which would increase premiums, co-payments and coinsurance; for the first time use new “total family income” criteria as a basis for calculating premiums; reduce the number of salary index codes for determining premiums; reduce the number of coverage tiers; and institute financial penalties for declining to participate in one or more PEIA programs; and

Whereas, The Finance Board’s goal when adopting these changes was to provide a fair plan for all, given the pressures of the escalating costs of health care and prescription drugs; and

Whereas, Notwithstanding the laudable efforts of the Finance Board, the House of Delegates finds that the changes to the Plan may have unintended consequences that could result in unfair and undue hardship to Plan members; and

Whereas, Governor Jim Justice and Legislative leaders have indicated that the suspension in the implementation of the 2019 Plan as adopted December 7, 2017, is desireabledesirable to allow lawmakers, PEIA officials and Plan members time to offer more input and consider all options over the coming year to ensure a fair structure for Plans in future years; and

Whereas, Maintaining the provisions of the current financial plan during the upcoming year while further consideration is given to developing a fairer plan is in the best interests of the Plan members and the State of West Virginia; and

Whereas, The Finance Board is scheduled to meet February 20, 2018, to reconsider its adoption of the 2019 Plan; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Delegates:

That it is the recommendation of the House of Delegates that the PEIA Finance Board suspend implementation of the financial plan as adopted December 7, 2017 for Plan Year 2019; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Board adopt a new financial plan for Plan Year 2019, that returns to the general provisions of the current financial plan for Plan Year 2018; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Board continue to work with lawmakers and officials, Plan members and others throughout the remainder of the year toward a more equitable plan that best serves our teachers, state and other public employees, as well as the taxpayers.

This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information.  |  Terms of Use  |   Email WebmasterWebmaster   |   © 2024 West Virginia Legislature **


X

Print On Demand

Name:
Email:
Phone:

Print