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CalPERS Health Program

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About Us

We're the largest purchaser of public employee health benefits in California and the second largest public purchaser in the nation after the federal government. In 2022, we spent over $10.6 billion to purchase health benefits for active and retired members and their families on behalf of the state of California (including the California State University) and nearly 1,200 public agencies and schools.

We have a vested interest in the health of our members, not only during their time as employees, but also throughout retirement. This long-term relationship drives the high-quality comprehensive health benefits we provide, which help our members maintain their quality of life no matter their age.

Plan Information

We provide a wide selection of high-quality health plan options to our members. Our Basic plans include:

HMO

Health Maintenance Organization

PPO

Preferred Provider Organization

EPO

Exclusive Provider Organization

Our Medicare plans include both:

  • Medicare Advantage
  • Medicare Supplemental

We offer Basic and Medicare health plan options in all of California’s 58 counties. Most of our members have access to both HMO and PPO plan options; however, members in some rural counties only have access to our PPO plans. We also offer limited Basic and Medicare health plan options for members who live out-of-state.

We contracted with leading health carriers to provide or administer the following plans:

  • Anthem Blue Cross
  • Blue Shield of California
  • Health Net of California
  • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan
  • Sharp Health Plan
  • UnitedHealthcare
  • Western Health Advantage

We also offer an association plan through the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) to members who pay applicable dues.

Our health plan premiums are competitively priced, with a variety of plan choices to meet your employees’ health care needs. Our administrative fee is 0.32% or less than 1% in 2024 and we do not charge commission or broker fees.

Since health care costs vary throughout California, we price premiums based on three regions, one region for Northern California and two regions in Southern California. Regional pricing enables us to provide high quality health plans with premiums that are competitively priced and in alignment with the cost of care in the market.

How To Join

In order to join, your governing body must sign a resolution agreeing to the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act (PEMHCA).

  • You can choose how your agency joins our program — either everyone in your agency or just certain employee groups. This determines the type of resolution your governing body will agree to. Our team will help you find the right solution for your agency.
  • We require that you provide a contribution toward all eligible employees and retirees, but there is flexibility so you can control your costs. We can help your agency make the right decision while still adhering to agreements you've made.
  • Vesting resolutions can help control Other Post-Employment Benefit (OPEB) liabilities.
  • We can help your agency decide if other optional resolutions are the right choice. You can offer health benefits to employees who work less than half-time, and survivors who do not receive a benefit.

Timeline

90days
recommended time between when your board signs a resolution and your effective date for coverage to start.

Your agency can join at any time during the year, but we recommend a minimum of 90 days between when your governing board signs a resolution and your effective date for coverage to start. This allows time for our Health Benefits Consultation team to work with your agency and ensure a smooth transition to CalPERS health benefits. Our team will assist your agency with:

  • Coordinating comprehensive CalPERS-facilitated training for your benefits team
  • Reviewing applicable employee agreements (Memorandums of Understanding)
  • Identifying and notifying eligible retirees
  • Planning and conducting health benefit workshops for active employees
  • Processing all retiree enrollments

Contact Us

Interested in joining? For assistance, email our Health Benefits Consultation team, or call us at (916) 795-1233.

Using myCalPERS

myCalPERS is the gateway for our members to conduct business electronically with us. They can access real-time details about their account, including their health information, in a confidential and secure environment.

myCalPERS gives 24/7 access to:

  • Find doctors and providers available in CalPERS health plans
  • Find what health plans are available in an area
  • Research monthly premiums of medical plans with the Search Health Plans tool

Visit our Using myCalPERS page to learn more.

Electronic Health Enrollment File

If your agency already has an existing human capital management system, you can process health enrollments in myCalPERS by using an electronic Health Enrollment File. The Health Enrollment File must be built in XML to meet myCalPERS information security requirements. If this is an option your agency is considering, you'll want to ensure that you have an information technology subject matter expert (whether an employee or a third-party administrator) who thoroughly understands how to develop XML code to support the build of a working Health Enrollment file. To find out more about the Health Enrollment File process, email our Health Business Partner Support team.