Reference & Health Guides
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
- Public Agency & Schools Health Benefits Guide (PDF, 1.2 MB)
- State Health Benefits Guide (PDF, 1.3 MB)
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)
Medicare
|
Sep 2023 (PDF) |
Health Eligibility Requirements
|
Feb 2023 (PDF) |
Medicare
|
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)
Medicare
|
Sep 2023 (PDF) |
Health Eligibility Requirements
|
Feb 2023 (PDF) |
Medicare
|
Jan 2023 (PDF) |
Chapter/Summary | Revision Date |
---|---|
Introduction Added PEPRA information to service retirement topic |
|
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 |
|
CSU-Only Membership Updates to the General Information for All Reporting Methods section |
|
Pay Rate & Service Credit Updated compensation limits with payroll record end date information |
|
Pay Rate & Service Credit Updated compensation limits with payroll record end date information |
|
Benefits Procedures Added/Revised Employment of a Retiree |
|
Benefits Procedures Update to Reporting an Imminent Death or Terminal Illness Power of Attorney |
|
Web Services & Publications Added/Revised Ordering Forms & Publications |
|
Education & Other Resources Added new educational resources |
Sep 2018 (PDF) |
Appendix Removed outdated forms |
Sep 2013 |
Policies & Procedures
Resources
Forms & Publications
- Public Agency & Schools Health Benefits Guide (PDF, 1.2 MB)
- Public Agency & Schools Reference Guide (PDF, 6.3 MB)
- State Health Benefits Guide (PDF, 1.3 MB)
- State Reference Guide (PDF, 3.15 MB)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the employer required to provide CalPERS with the original agreement?
An original or certified copy of the agreement is acceptable. If the employer wishes to have an original signed copy of the agreement, it should send two copies with original signatures to CalPERS. After approval, CalPERS will sign both copies and return one to the employer.