The PEIA Finance Board approved on Thursday a three percent deductible increase, along with a $200 increase in the spousal surcharge. Over the last three years public employees have been subject to nearly a 50% increase in PEIA deductibles. Public employees feel that this increase has put them between a rock and a hard place financially. The main thing raising concerns from many families on PEIA is the approved $200 increase to the spousal surcharge, which has brought the charges to $500 in some cases. Education West Virginia Co-President Dale Lee has contended increases should be based on the ability to pay. Said Lee, ” someone making $200,000 a year shouldn’t pay the same price as somebody making $20,000.”