PEIA Offers Weight Management

PEIA, also known as the Public Employee Insurance Agency, is the State agency that arranges for health and life insurance benefits for West Virginia’s public employees. PEIA administers the PEIA Preferred Provider Benefit (PPB) Plans, and contracts with all of the managed care plans that are offered to public employees. 

    As college students, we must strive to keep ourselves healthy, and with PEIA’s help, we now have the chance. PEIA offers PEIA PPB members a weight management program which uses the services of nutrition specialists and exercise professionals. Individuals in the Concord University area and surrounding communities who have PEIA PPB Insurance and are wanting to start a healthier lifestyle are invited to join the program. 

    According to PEIA’s Weight Management Program website, maintaining a healthy weight is essential to a long and productive life. To qualify for the program, you must have either a body mass index of 25 or greater, or a waist circumference of 35 inches or more for a woman, or 40 inches or more for a man. Additionally, participants cannot have recently undergone bariatric or lap band surgery and cannot have exhausted this benefit previously. 

    Also, while there is still no deductible or coinsurance, the member copayment is a flat $20 monthly throughout the length of the program, making it more affordable for couples and/or families who want to attend together. 

    With the Weight Management Program, there are multiple services offered including: individualized services, a baseline assessment and periodic follow ups, personal training, phone coaching, access to a participating fitness facility meeting PEIA’s health and safety standards, and two years of services so long as you demonstrate progress. 

    To start the program, approval must be received from PEIA. An online enrollment form is available at https://www.peiaf2f.com/WeightEnrollmentForm.aspx 

    A copayment of $20 is required per month to participate.

For additional information regarding the program, please contact PEIA at 1-866-688-7493 or visit http://www.peia.wv.gov/wellness_tools/Pages/Weight-Management-Program.aspx 

    For further information about using the program at Concord including use of the University’s facilities, please email wellness@concord.edu or call 304-384-5983.