Calpers Life Insurance: What Retirees Need To Know

The California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) offers a defined benefit retirement plan that covers health and Medicare benefits. CalPERS members can continue their health coverage into retirement if they meet certain requirements, such as enrolling in Medicare before turning 65 and retiring within 120 days of their separation date. While CalPERS offers a range of health plans, it is unclear if life insurance is explicitly included in the benefits package. However, employees may be able to port their employer-paid life insurance plan upon retirement, indicating that CalPERS may not directly provide life insurance coverage for retirees.

CalPERS health coverage for retirees

CalPERS offers 12 health plans to its members. Open Enrollment is held annually in the fall, allowing members to make health plan changes, add or delete dependents, or cancel coverage. Members can also change their health plan within 60 days of a qualifying status change.

To continue CalPERS health coverage into retirement, you must retire within 120 days of your separation date. Before you turn 65, you need to enroll in Medicare to maintain your CalPERS health coverage. Once you retire, CalPERS becomes your health benefits officer.

You can log in to myCalPERS to use the Search Health Plans tool to research the health plan coverage and benefits most important to you and your family. Some health plans are only available in certain counties and/or ZIP codes, so it is important to check that your chosen plan covers your ZIP code and is accepting new patients in your area.

Your health premiums are deducted from your retirement pay.

CalPERS health plans

CalPERS offers 12 health plans to its members. Open Enrollment is held annually in the fall, allowing members to make changes to their health plans, add or delete dependents, or cancel coverage.

To be eligible for CalPERS health coverage, you must enroll in Medicare before turning 65. After you retire, CalPERS becomes your health benefits officer. You can continue coverage into retirement if you retire within 120 days of your separation date.

Some health plans are only available in certain counties or ZIP codes, so it is important to contact the health plan before enrolling to ensure they cover your area. CalPERS provides an online service, the Health Plan Search by ZIP Code, to help members find health plans available in their region.

• Anthem Blue Cross (Basic) (HMO)
• Anthem Blue Cross Del Norte (EPO)
• Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Preferred (PPO)
• Blue Shield of California (HMO)
• Blue Shield Access+ HMO
• Blue Shield Trio HMO
• Blue Shield of California (EPO)
• Blue Shield of California Medicare (PPO)
• California Association of Highway Patrolmen (CAHP) (PPO)
• California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA) Access+ (HMO)
• California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA) (PPO)
• Health Net of California (HMO)
• Kaiser Permanente Basic Plan
• Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) (PPO)
• PERS Platinum Basic Plan
• PERS Gold Basic Plan
• Sharp Health Plan (Basic) (HMO) Sharp Performance Plus
• UnitedHealthcare (Basic) (HMO)
• UnitedHealthcare (Medicare) (PPO)
• Western Health Advantage (HMO)

The types of plans offered by CalPERS include:

• Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans, which provide healthcare from specific doctors and hospitals under contract with the plan. Members pay co-payments for some services and have no deductible or claim forms, but there is a geographically restricted service area.
• Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans, which are similar to traditional "fee-for-service" plans but require members to use doctors in the PPO provider network or pay higher co-insurance. Members typically meet an annual deductible before some benefits apply.
• Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) plans, which offer the same covered services as HMO plans but require members to seek services from the plan's network of preferred providers. Members can access physicians and specialists in the network without a referral and pay co-payments for some services. EPO plans have no deductible or claim forms and have a geographically restricted service area.

CalPERS also offers a range of dental and vision benefits, as well as sustainable investment programs and technical support.

CalPERS health premiums

CalPERS offers 12 health plans, including Basic (non-Medicare) and Medicare plans. The overall weighted premium increase for 2025 is 10.79%. Basic plans will increase by 9.08% overall, with an average premium increase of 8.72% for CalPERS' Basic Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans, and an overall increase of 9.82% for Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Basic plans. Medicare plan premiums will rise by 22.25% overall.

During Open Enrollment, which is held annually in the fall, you can make changes to your health plan, add or delete eligible dependents, or cancel coverage. You can also use the Search Health Plans tool in myCalPERS to research the health plan coverage and benefits that are most important to you and your family.

It's important to note that some health plans are only available in certain counties and/or ZIP codes, so be sure to contact the health plan before enrolling to ensure they cover your area. Additionally, you must enroll in Medicare before turning 65 to keep your CalPERS health coverage.

CalPERS health benefits

CalPERS offers a range of health benefits to its members, both active and retired. There are 12 health plans available, and members can make changes to their health plan during the annual Open Enrollment period, which takes place each fall. It is important to note that to continue CalPERS health coverage into retirement, members must retire within 120 days of their separation date.

During Open Enrollment, members can enroll, change health plans, add eligible dependents, delete dependents, or cancel coverage. CalPERS also offers a Complementary Annuitant Premium Program (CAPP) and Dependent Eligibility Verification. Additionally, members can access the Search Health Plans tool on the myCalPERS website or platform to research the health plan coverage and benefits most important to them and their families.

Some health plans are only available in certain counties and/or ZIP codes, so it is essential to contact the health plan before enrolling to ensure they cover your area. CalPERS provides an online service, the Health Plan Search by ZIP Code, to assist with this.

The cost of health care varies across California, and CalPERS takes this into account when setting premiums. Regional pricing ensures that premiums reflect the actual cost of health care in a specific region, making them appropriate and competitive for the member's location.

To maintain CalPERS health coverage, members must enroll in Medicare before turning 65. Once retired, CalPERS becomes the member's health benefits officer, and health premiums are deducted from retirement pay.

CalPERS life insurance premiums

CalPERS, or the California Public Employees' Retirement System, offers its members a variety of health plans, including health insurance and Medicare. While I could not find explicit information on life insurance premiums, there is information on health insurance premiums.

CalPERS Health Insurance Premiums

CalPERS offers 12 health plans, and eligible members can make health plan changes during the annual Open Enrollment period in the fall.

To be eligible for the CalPERS Health Program, you must:

• Be appointed to a job lasting at least six months and one day
• Work at least half-time
• Work for an employer who has contracted with CalPERS to administer their health benefits program

If you are eligible, you have 60 calendar days from your appointment date to request enrollment.

If you are already enrolled in a CalPERS health plan and your employer contracts for the CalPERS Health Program, you may be able to continue your health coverage into retirement if you:

• Retire within 120 days of your separation date with your employer
• Receive a monthly retirement allowance
• Are eligible for health enrollment on the date of your separation

If you are enrolled in a CalPERS health plan when you stop working, your coverage will continue into retirement without a break.

CalPERS Health Plan Rates

CalPERS health plan rates vary depending on various factors, including the specific health plan, the region, and the type of plan (e.g., Basic or Medicare). The rates also depend on whether they are for state and California State University (CSU) members, public agency and school members, or COBRA health premiums.

For example, the 2025 health premiums approved by the CalPERS Board of Administration for state and CSU members include:

• CalPERS 2025 In-State Premiums
• CalPERS 2025 Out-of-State Premiums

Public agency and school members' health plan premiums are adjusted based on regional pricing to reflect the actual cost of healthcare in their specific region.

COBRA health premiums are calculated at 102% of the Basic premiums, and some carriers may charge less than these maximum amounts.

CalPERS and Medicare

If you are 65 or older, retired, and eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A, you must enroll in a CalPERS Medicare health plan and Medicare Part B. You will also have the option to choose a new health plan at this time.

CalPERS and Life Insurance

While I could not find specific information on life insurance premiums, CalPERS does offer a Complementary Annuitant Premium Program (CAPP). This could potentially be related to life insurance premiums, but further information would be needed to confirm this.

Frequently asked questions