WV public employees worried about increasing insurance costs

By Nadia Ramlagan 
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Health insurance premiums for West Virginia’s public employees could increase by approximately 3% under proposed changes from the state’s Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA). The plan, which also includes a significant hike in spousal coverage costs, has not yet been approved by the agency’s board.
If enacted, the changes would take effect in fiscal year 2027 and impact thousands of teachers, state workers, and other public employees across the Mountain State. A virtual public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Nov. 20.
Dale Lee, copresident of Education West Virginia, voiced concern over the financial strain the proposal could place on educators, especially in light of stagnant wages and rising living costs.
“Teachers are angry,” Lee said. “We haven’t seen meaningful pay increases, yet premiums, inflation, and the cost of living keep climbing.”
Under the proposed plan, the monthly surcharge for spousal coverage would rise by $200. Lee said the increase could further complicate efforts to recruit and retain educators in a state already grappling with a teacher shortage.
“We used to say, ‘We may be lower in pay, but we have the best benefits,’” Lee noted. “Now the benefits are starting to erode.”
West Virginia currently faces roughly 1,500 public schoolteacher vacancies statewide. Lee urged lawmakers to consider a substantial pay raise—not just to offset insurance costs, but to help educators keep pace with inflation.
“What we’re telling legislators is you need to give an actual pay raise,” he said.
The PEIA board has not yet voted on the proposed changes. More details are expected to emerge following the upcoming public hearing.