CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) — Health insurance costs for West Virginia’s public employees are poised to rise again next year under a new proposal from the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) Finance Board.
The plan calls for an average 3% increase in premiums beginning July 1, 2026, along with an additional $200 annual increase for workers covering a spouse.
PEIA officials say the changes are needed to keep pace with rising healthcare costs after several years of frozen rates between 2018 and 2022, when then-Gov. Jim Justice promised no premium hikes. Since that freeze ended, rates have climbed sharply — including a 14% increase this fiscal year.
Unlike previous years, this time no state employee pay raise was issued to help offset the cost.
If the board’s five-year plan is approved, total premium increases would reach 33.7% by 2030.
Plan Changes Ahead
The proposal also includes renaming and restructuring several existing coverage options:
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Plan A → PPB Gold
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Plan B → PPB Silver
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Plan C → Gold High Deductible Plan
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Plan D → WV Bronze High Deductible Plan
Plan D would undergo the biggest shift, becoming a lower-cost option with a 34% premium decrease, but coverage would drop from 80/20 to 75/25, and deductibles would rise by 425%.
Public Hearings Scheduled
The PEIA Finance Board will hold a series of public hearings across the state to gather feedback before making a final decision on the proposal.
Below is a complete packet of information:
