West Virginia public workers could face another round of health insurance benefit cuts.
Public Employees Insurance Agency executive director Ted Cheatham says the agency has to cut about $60 million for the 2016-2017 plan because state funding isn’t expected to increase.
Cheatham tells The Charleston Gazette-Mail that PEIA staff will present a list of possible cuts to the agency’s Finance Board in October. Following public hearings in November, the board will approve the 2016-2017 plan in December.
The PEIA imposed $40 million in cuts for the current plan that went into effect July 1. Those cuts were achieved primarily through increasing deductibles and co-pays.
The agency provides health insurance for employees of the state, public schools and other government entities.