Health Benefits

Affordable Care Act (ACA)

The ACA requires most Americans to have qualifying health insurance called "minimum essential coverage." Currently, the individual mandate is still in effect, but the individual penalty has been set to zero. All of CalPERS' health plans meet the minimum essential coverage requirement.

Eligibility & Enrollment for Active Members

Eligibility isn't based on your job classification. To be eligible for the CalPERS Health Program, you must: Be appointed to a job that will last at least six months and one day, work at least half time, and work for an employer contracted with CalPERS to administer their health benefits program.

Long-Term Care

CalPERS has temporarily suspended open enrollment for the Long-Term Care Program. Therefore, until further notice, we are no longer accepting new applications for coverage.

The CalPERS Long-Term Care Program is administered by our third-party administrator, illumifin.

Medicare

Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older. You may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease).

Open Enrollment for Active Members

Open Enrollment takes place each fall. The 2025 Open Enrollment dates are September 15 – October 10. Changes made during Open Enrollment will take effect January 1, 2026.

Plans & Rates (Active Member)

Learn about the different health plans and other details about your health care benefits. We have information on employer contributions, Open Enrollment, and general information about what the types of plans include.