WV HB2852

Establishes the West Virginia Portable Insurance Benefit Plan, a state-sponsored insurance program for independent contractors that provides health, dental, optical, disability, audiology/hearing-aid, and prepaid retirement coverage

Creates a governance structure including a director appointed by the Governor and an 11-member Finance Board responsible for developing annual financial plans and setting premium costs, with minimum provider reimbursement rates set at 110% of Medicare rates

Contributions by hiring parties to portable benefit plans are voluntary and cannot be used to determine employment classification or establish employer liability

Plans must match all benefits offered through the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA), and benefits are portable—assigned to individual beneficiaries rather than tied to specific hiring parties

Retired independent contractors and surviving spouses/dependents of deceased independent contractors may participate in coverage by paying premiums established by the Finance Board