Press Release

September 5, 2012

External Affairs Branch
(916) 795-3991
Robert Udall Glazier, Deputy Executive Officer
Brad Pacheco, Chief, Office of Public Affairs
Contact: Bill Madison, Information Officer
pressroom@calpers.ca.gov   

CalPERS Open Enrollment Kicks Off in September

Health Benefits Can Be Changed September 10 – October 5

SACRAMENTO, CA – California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) members may enroll in its Health Program during the CalPERS Open Enrollment Period from September 10, 2012 through October 5, 2012. During Open Enrollment, members may also make changes to their existing health plans, or add eligible family members. Open Enrollment changes take effect January 1, 2013.

In June, the CalPERS Board of Administration approved a health benefits package for 2013 that included an overall annual premium increase of 9.5 percent for the more than 1.3 million members enrolled in its health plans. The rate reflected growing health care costs nationwide and amounted to an average $30 a month increase per CalPERS member.  The rate package included average coverage increases of 8.7 percent for Basic Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs, non-Medicare) and 13.9 percent for Basic Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs, non-Medicare). Medicare plans saw an overall decrease of 10.5 percent.

CalPERS offers a variety of HMO and PPO health plan options, including Blue Shield NetValue, Blue Shield Access+, Kaiser Permanente, PERS Select, PERS Choice, PERSCare, California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA) Medical Plan, California Association of Highway Patrol (CAHP) Health Plan, and Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) Police and Fire Health Plan.

Active employees who wish to change their health plans or add eligible members during the 2012 Open Enrollment period should contact their employer’s Health Benefits Officer or Personnel Office. Retirees with Internet access can change their health plans online through my|CalPERS, by calling toll free at 888 CalPERS (or 888-225-7377), or by requesting a change in writing and mailing the request to: CalPERS Health Account Services, P.O. Box 942714,  Sacramento, CA 94229-2714.

Members who need help selecting a health plan can use an online tool called the Health Plan Chooser, which will help them easily determine which plan best suits their needs. The Health Plan Chooser is available in the Open Enrollment Center, a one-stop shop for Health Open Enrollment located on CalPERS On-Line. The Open Enrollment Center offers “Quick Links” to health program publications that will help members with their decisions, such as the Health Program Guide, 2013 Health Benefit Summary, and CalPERS Medicare Enrollment Guide.

The CalPERS health program began in 1962, when it was created for State employees. In 1967, public agencies were allowed to contract with CalPERS to provide health benefits for their active and retired employees.

CalPERS, with assets of approximately $233 billion, is the largest public pension fund in the U.S. It administers retirement benefits for more than 1.6 million California State, local government, and public school employees, retirees, and their families on behalf of more than 3,000 public employers. The average CalPERS pension benefit is $2,332 per month. The average benefit for those who retired in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2011, is $3,065 per month. For more information on CalPERS, please visit www.calpers.ca.gov.

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Dated: 09-05-2012