| UPDATE - The PEIA Board has delayed a decision on major increases for health and prescription drug costs for state employees for one week.
ORIGINAL STORY - Members of the state Public Employees Insurance Agency Finance Board will meet Thursday to vote on proposed increases to health insurance deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums for state workers.
The agency, in a $120 million hole, is proposing a $500 increase for state workers on an individual plan and $1,000 for those with a family plan. Out-of-pocket maximums would jump $1,500 for one person and $3,000 for a family.
A series of six meetings were held in Huntington, Morgantown, Martinsburg, Wheeling, Charleston and Beckley last month where many residents turned out to express their disapproval with the proposal.
The proposed plan also changes the coverage for preferred brand prescription drugs. Copay for the drugs has been $25, but the new plan would take up to 30 percent of the cost of a prescription.
If approved, changes would go into effect next July. | 
