Annual Health Plan Changes

We’re working to give members more choices for affordable health plans and to ensure our benefit coverage provides equitable, high-quality health care. We realize that any changes to health plans impact your decisions during Open Enrollment. We will communicate all changes to plans and premiums to you prior to Open Enrollment in the fall.

We’re providing you with information on the 2027 health plan proposals (PDF) approved in November 2025 by the CalPERS Board of Administration.

There’s no action for you to take now.

These proposals become part of our rate development process when we set health premiums . The Pension & Health Benefits Committee will review preliminary 2027 health premiums and any additional proposed plan and benefit changes in June 2026 and approve final premiums and changes in July 2026.

For a full list of our available health plans, visit the Plans & Rates page.

Basic Plan Expansions

Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) and Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
Health Plan	Changes
Blue Shield of California EPO	Expansion into Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, San Bernardino, Sutter, Yuba
Kaiser Permanente HMO	Expansion into the following counties in northwestern Nevada: Carson City, Douglas, Lyon, Storey, and Washoe County¹

Medicare Plan Expansions

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
Health Plan	Changes
Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage HMO	Expansion into the following counties in northwestern Nevada: Carson City, Douglas, Lyon, Storey, and Washoe County¹

Benefit Design Change

Health Plan	Change
Basic plans: Anthem Blue Cross Traditional Anthem Blue Cross Select Blue Shield Access+ Blue Shield Trio Health Net Salud y Más Kaiser Permanente Sharp Health Plan Performance Plus UnitedHealthcare SignatureValue Alliance UnitedHealthcare SignatureValue Harmony Western Health Advantage	Beginning July 1, 2027, Basic HMO plans will offer coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility as required by SB 729.²

Endnotes

¹Pending regulatory approvals. The exact service is still being determined.

²CalPERS is analyzing premium impacts and evaluating all available options to implement a cost-effective benefit that provides treatment and support.

We’re providing you with 2026 health plan changes approved by the CalPERS Board of Administration on July 15, 2025. There are no other changes to our health plans or benefits except those described here. For a full list of available health plans and premiums, view the Plans & Rates page.

There’s no action for you to take now.

For a full list of our available health plans, visit the Plans & Rates page.

Health Plan Changes

Health Plan	Changes
Basic Plans Anthem Blue Cross Traditional Anthem Blue Cross Select Health Net Salud y Más PERS Gold Basic PERS Platinum Basic Sharp Health Plan Performance Plus UnitedHealthcare SignatureValue Alliance UnitedHealthcare SignatureValue Harmony Western Health Advantage Medicare Plans Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Preferred PERS Gold Medicare Supplement PERS Platinum Medicare Supplement	Effective January 1, 2026, CVS Caremark (CVS) will replace OptumRx as the new pharmacy benefits manager (PBM). For more information on changes visit CVS Caremark Pharmacy Benefits. Health plans not listed are not affected by this change.
Blue Shield Access+	Expansion into Monterey County
Blue Shield Trio	Exits Monterey County

Benefit Design Changes

PERS Gold Basic Plan
Benefit	Changes
Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID)	Will continue with in-patient deductible credits of up to $500 for completing an expanded menu of preventive care activities such as cancer screenings, vaccinations, depression screening, or participation in a Diabetes Prevention Program (if applicable)