PEIA Update

Beginning with Plan Year 2009 on July 1, 2008, participants will no longer be required to complete a tobacco affidavit each year — unless there is a change in participant or dependent tobacco use. Changes (tobacco status, adding or deleting dependents, etc.) may be made through the Board office or online once you have gone through the initial registration process.

PEIA Legislative Update-Dependents May Continue Coverage to Age 25

During the 2007 Legislative session, a bill passed allowing parents to keep unmarried, dependent children on their insurance coverage to age 25. The bill is effective July 1, 2007.

Your unmarried child or stepchild age 19 - 25 will qualify for benefits if he or she meets the definition of a "qualifying child" OR a "qualifying relative." For details of these definitions, go to www.wvpeia.com.

If you have qualifying unmarried children between ages 19 - 25 that you want to enroll for coverage, see your benefit coordinator, Vicki Hammer, for a Change-In-Status form. Complete the form and return it to Vicki. If you get this form to your benefit coordinator before June 30, 2007, coverage will not be effective July 1.

PEIA will not require documentation to add these dependents but will be conducting individual eligibility audits after July 1. If you are audited, you will have to produce either a student verification form for the dependent in question or your most recent Federal tax return showing that you've claimed the dependent on your taxes. If you cannot prove that the dependent qualifies for coverage, coverage will be terminated retroactively to the date the child would otherwise have been terminated, and PEIA will pursue reimbursement of any medical or prescription drug claims paid on the dependent.

Available Plans - Three plans are available to school employees in Pendleton County:

• PEIA PPB Plan A, which is the plan most all of the employees are currently in; or
• PEIA PPB Plan B, which has lower premiums but significantly higher deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses.