| Hundreds of retired state workers are lashing out at the Public Employees Insurance Agency since the insurance provider changed carriers.
About 200 retired and soon-to-be retired state workers and teachers gathered at Huntington High School to learn why PEIA decided earlier this year to allow Kentucky-based Advantra to provide health care coverage for retirees who are eligible for Medicare.
One of the big complaints the retirees had is that the new card and provider are not accepted in some other states.
"I feel like PEIA sold us out," said Imogene Parrish, a retired Cabell County Schools worker.
PEIA has agreed to let some retirees who do spend a lot of time out of state rejoin the old plan for the time being.
There were numerous complaints that some retirees under the new carrier were losing the supplemental insurance they had purchased for themselves and their spouses over the years.
The PEIA rep advised "The issue there is Medicare considers any plan with a Plan D (or prescription drug coverage) as double dipping, and they kick you out."
PEIAs new coverage also is limiting where some people can go to the hospital.
The biggest complaint was about retirees having to pay co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles, something they didn't have to pay under the old system.
Dumbing down the coverage to retirees is happening with "guaranteed" plans across the USA.
PEIA said despite the retirees' complaints, they believe the program is good and provides retirees with an excellent level of health care.
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