CHARLESTON -- A group of lawmakers is asking questions about recent changes enacted in the health and prescription drug insurance coverage that retired state and county workers receive.

A handful of lawmakers peppered officials with the Public Employees Insurance Agency with questions Nov. 27, saying they have heard numerous complaints about the changes from constituents.

"There are folks that paid zero dollars who are now paying $500," said Delegate Tom Campbell, D-Greenbrier, who serves as chairman for a special joint committee on PEIA. "That's hitting people who are the most ill and have the most difficulty paying."

This summer, PEIA changed its policy regarding health care benefits for retirees. Instead of managing the medical and prescription coverage for retirees eligible for Medicare themselves, PEIA contracted with Kentucky-based Advantra Freedom. Since then, retirees, their families and even doctors and pharmacists have flooded lawmakers with letters and phone calls with questions and sometimes complaints about the new system.

Lawmakers have hosted meetings in their home communities, inviting PEIA officials to explain the new system. During at least three of those meetings, hundreds of retirees have crowded meeting rooms in Huntington, Morgantown and in the southern portion of the state to vent about the changes and ask for help in understanding what the new system offers.

So what are people complaining about? During the Nov. 27 meeting, the Legislative Auditor's Office unveiled results of a survey it mailed to more than 500 retires, 363 medical providers, 270 osteopathic doctors, 343 pharmacists and 63 hospitals. While not all of the people who received the survey responded, about 77 percent of retirees did.

When asked about their experience with the new system, 20 percent said prescriptions they took under PEIA were no longer covered by Advantra. Another 4 percent complained that their current doctor would not accept the insurance. And 3 percent said the new program would not cover treatments for pre-existing conditions, and another 3 percent said the new program would not pay for routine health screenings.

In addition, about half of those retirees said the new system resulted in higher out-of-pocket expenses for them. In fact, 52 percent of retirees said the new system was not an improvement over the old system.

Physicians, osteopaths, hospitals and pharmacists also were critical of the new system. Their complaints mostly focused on Advantra not reimbursing them enough, not being quick enough to pay them and not covering certain medication, tests and procedures.

Lawmakers and professional staff who work at the Capitol and conducted the survey said the findings are clear.

"From a staff perspective, we see three things: First, we tried to do too much too fast by switching from PEIA to (Advantra) at the same time as changing their costs," said Legislative Auditor Aaron Allred. "Second, the cost with (Advantra), and, third, costs are increasing. I think we've got all three things going on."

Ted Cheatham, PEIA's executive director, said his office is trying to address the concerns of retirees. He encouraged lawmakers to have their constituents call them if they are having problems. Plus, he said, the contract with Advantra is for one year and comes with two options to extend the contract for another year. He said PEIA's finance board should meet within a few days or weeks to set a deadline about whether to extend the contract.

Sen. Bob Plymale, D-Wayne, said he has heard complaints from a lot of people that the new insurance carrier doesn't cover the doctors, hospitals and medications they depend on. For example, he said a number of people in his home county travel to both Ashland, Ky., and Huntington to see doctors and go to the hospital. But under the new program, he said he's been told people no longer can go to places such as King's Daughters Hospital in Ashland. The insurance simply isn't accepted.

In addition, he said, some people have told him they've been forced to switch their medicine. That's something he hates hearing and something he doesn't agree with.

"My primary care physician is also a pharmacist. I trust his decision about what medicines I should take a lot more than I trust someone in an office somewhere," he said.