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Eligibility & Enrollment (Retiree)

Eligibility

An employee may elect to enroll in or continue health coverage upon retirement. Employees eligible for retirement must meet all of the following requirements to be eligible for enrollment in the CalPERS Health Benefit Program as a retiree:

  • Retire within 120 days from the date of separation from employment.
  • Receive a monthly retirement allowance.
  • Be eligible for health enrollment on the date of separation.
  • Must have retired from the State, California State University (CSU), or an agency that currently contracts with CalPERS for health benefits for their specific bargaining unit.

Enrollment

An enrolled member’s health benefits will continue into retirement if their separation date from employment and retirement date are within 30 days of each other:

  • If the member’s separation date and retirement date are more than 30 days from each other, the member will need to request to enroll into retiree health benefits within 60 days of the retirement date.

  • If the member’s separation date and retirement date are more than 120 days from each other, the member will not be eligible for health benefits into retirement.

If the member does not want health benefits to continue into retirement, the member has the option to cancel their coverage by:

  • Submitting a Health Benefits Plan Enrollment form to the employer (if still active)
  • Declining CalPERS health coverage on either CalPERS Service Retirement Election Application or on CalPERS Disability Retirement Election Application
  • Writing or calling CalPERS to request to cancel health coverage (if retired)

An eligible retiree may elect health coverage:

  • At the time of separation for retirement
  • Any time after retirement with a qualifying life event
  • During a future Open Enrollment period.

Dental & Vision

View Dental & Vision Benefits for details on how to make changes to your dental and vision plan outside of Open Enrollment.

Online Health Enrollment for Retirees

You can submit many health enrollment changes online through your myCalPERS account. Visit Online Health Enrollment for Retirees for more information.

Changing Your Health Enrollment

Once you retire, CalPERS becomes your health benefits officer. You can make changes with qualifying life events, or during Open Enrollment. There are several ways you can make changes:

If you choose to decline or cancel enrollment for yourself or your dependents, you'll have to wait for 90 days or until the next Open Enrollment period to enroll again — unless you have a qualifying life event.

Qualifying life events, such as having a baby or adopting a child, getting married or divorced, or losing other health coverage, allow you to make changes to your health enrollment outside of the Open Enrollment period.

  • Adding a dependent child who is not your adopted, step, or recognized natural child requires an Affidavit of Parent-Child Relationship (PDF).
  • Adding a registered domestic partner requires a copy of the approved Declaration of Domestic Partnership.
  • Adding a spouse requires a copy of your marriage license.

For more information about additional enrollment opportunities, read the Health Program Guide (HBD 120) (PDF, 1.69 MB).

Health Demographic Profile

We're committed to ensuring that health care is equitable and individualized for all members, regardless of race, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation or gender identity. By completing your Health Demographic Profile in myCalPERS, you're helping us to better understand our members and work towards better health outcomes for all.

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