The reference and health guides are designed to help you in your business and health transactions with CalPERS. We encourage you to make the applicable guides available to all staff who process enrollments or convey retirement and/or health benefit information.

Reference Guides

Health Benefits Guides

Retirement Resource Guides

These guides provide simplified explanations for often complex laws. Should there be a conflict between the language in either the reference or health guides, and the California Public Employees' Retirement Law (PERL) or Public Employees’ Medical & Hospital Care Act (PEMHCA), the PERL and PEMHCA will prevail. If you have comments or suggestions for future editions of these guides, contact us.

*For questions regarding account codes, or requests for account code corrections, adjustments, and/or verifications contact the State Controller's Office retirement liaison at (916) 324-1471.

Revision History

You can view a summary of the revisions made to our guides by selecting the desired link below. For content that received substantive changes, a PDF link is also available in the summary. To stay informed about changes to CalPERS policies and procedures, review our Circular Letters or subscribe to the Employer Bulletin.

Topic/Summary Revision Date

Contact Information (for Members & Employers)

  • Updated direct pay information for Anthem Blue Cross

Medicare

  • Update to voluntary enrollment
Sep 2023 (PDF)

Health Eligibility Requirements

  • Additional instructions for approval of a certified disabled dependent enrollment

Feb 2023 (PDF)

Medicare

  • Updated enrollment period(s) and new CMS enrollment requirements

Jan 2023 (PDF)
Chapter/Summary Revision Date

Introduction

Added PEPRA information to service retirement topic

Jul 2017 (PDF)

Contract Coverage Procedures

Added/Revised Public Agency Contract Information

Apr 2023 (PDF)

Membership

Updates to the following: CalPERS Membership Eligibility, Processing the Reciprocal Self-Certification Form in myCalPERS, Optional Members of CalPERS, School Employment: CalPERS or CalSTRS, and Reciprocity topics

Aug 2023 (PDF)

Compensation Review

Added 2023 compensation limits and new member contribution caps

Jan 2023 (PDF)

Compensation Review

Updates to the General Information for All Reporting Methods topic

Aug 2023 (PDF)

Payroll Reporting Procedures

Updated 1959 survivor contribution amounts and pay rate/earnings relationship topics

Aug 2022 (PDF)

Benefits Procedures

Added/Revised Employment of a Retiree

Apr 2023 (PDF)

Benefits Procedures

Update to Reporting an Imminent Death or Terminal Illness Power of Attorney topic

Aug 2023 (PDF)

Benefits Procedures

Added/Revised Local Agency Determination Procedures

Oct 2023 (PDF)

Web Services & Publications

Added/Revised Ordering Forms & Publications

Apr 2023 (PDF)

Education & Other Resources

Added new educational resources

Sep 2018 (PDF)

Appendix

Updated Resolutions 1 and 2

Oct 2023 (PDF)
Topic/Summary Revision Date

Contact Information (for Members & Employers)

  • Updated direct pay information for Anthem Blue Cross

Medicare

  • Update to voluntary enrollment
Sep 2023 (PDF)

Health Eligibility Requirements

  • Additional instructions for approval of a certified disabled dependent enrollment

Feb 2023 (PDF)

Medicare

  • Updated enrollment period(s) and new CMS enrollment requirements

Jan 2023 (PDF)
Chapter/Summary Revision Date

Introduction

Added PEPRA information to service retirement topic

Jul 2017 (PDF)

General Membership Information

Updates to the following: Processing the Reciprocal Self-Certification Form in myCalPERS, CBU 3 or CBU 21 School Employment: CalPERS or CalSTRS, and Reciprocity topics

Aug 2023 (PDF)

CSU-Only Membership

Updates to the General Information for All Reporting Methods section

Apr 2021 (PDF)

Pay Rate & Service Credit

Updated compensation limits with payroll record end date information

Jan 2023 (PDF)

Pay Rate & Service Credit

Updated compensation limits with payroll record end date information

Aug 2022 (PDF)

Benefits Procedures

Added/Revised Employment of a Retiree

Apr 2023 (PDF)

Benefits Procedures

Update to Reporting an Imminent Death or Terminal Illness Power of Attorney

Aug 2023 (PDF)

Web Services & Publications

Added/Revised Ordering Forms & Publications

Apr 2023 (PDF)

Education & Other Resources

Added new educational resources

Sep 2018 (PDF)

Appendix

Removed outdated forms

Sep 2013

Resources

Forms & Publications

Frequently Asked Questions