Open Enrollment Now Underway for 1 Million CalPERS Health Program Members

Business Wire, Sept 9, 1998

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 8, 1998--The annual health plan open enrollment period for more than 1 million members of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) began September 1 and will continue through October 15, 1998.

CalPERS purchases health benefits for active and retired employees of 1,191 state and local public agencies throughout California. It is the second largest public purchaser of employee health benefits in the nation behind the federal government.

Open enrollment is the period when CalPERS members can change health plans or add family members without regard to pre-existing conditions. They have a choice of ten health maintenance organizations (HMOs), two self-funded preferred provider organizations (PPOs), and four specialized "association" plans for members of certain public employee groups.

For retirees and the disabled, CalPERS also offers a choice of five HMO Managed Medicare plans, five HMO Supplement to Medicare plans, two self-funded PPO Supplement to Medicare Plans, and four "association" Supplement to Medicare PPOs.

Because of the widely publicized nationwide confusion among Medicare recipients regarding the federal government's exotic new proposals for Medicare Choice plans, CalPERS is cautioning its members that this year they don't have to do anything at all to continue receiving care through their existing CalPERS Medicare plan. Members are being cautioned not to jeopardize their CalPERS health benefits by enrolling in any of the non-CalPERS Medicare plans now being advertised elsewhere.

If members wish to change health plans during open enrollment, those changes will take effect January 1, 1999. Despite CalPERS' efforts to hold down health care costs, monthly premiums for basic plans for active employees will increase an average of 7.3 percent beginning January 1, 1999. CalPERS is urging members to check the new rate sheets in the open enrollment packets mailed to their homes.

For additional information about CalPERS, visit the system's Web site at www.calpers.ca.gov.

    CONTACT:  CalPERS Office of Public Affairs
               Bill Branch/Pat Macht, 916/326-3991