Health Plans
Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)
HMOs offer you a range of health benefits, including preventive care, for a monthly fee, with no deductibles or maximums. They also set co-payments for the care you receive. The HMO will give you a list of doctors for your use in choosing a primary care physician (PCP). The PCP coordinates all your care, including referrals to a specialist. If you go outside of the HMO without a referral from the plan, you'll be responsible for the total cost of services, except for emergencies or urgent care services.
HMOs are available only in designated California service areas. To see which plans are available where you live or work, use our Health Plan Search By ZIP Code online service. Kaiser Permanente is available in some other states, although the covered benefits can vary.
Blue Shield of California
Current CalPERS Members
Prospective Members
P.O. Box 272520
Chico, CA 95927-2520
Member Services: 800-334-5847
Kaiser Permanente
Northern California Region*
1950 Franklin Street
Oakland, CA 94612
Member Service Call Center: (800) 464-4000
Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs)
A PPO is similar to a traditional "fee-for-service" plan, but you must use doctors in the PPO provider network or pay higher co-insurance (percentage of charges). A PPO allows you to select a primary care provider and specialists without referral. In these plans, you must usually meet an annual deductible before some benefits apply. You are responsible for a certain co-insurance amount, and the plan pays the balance up to the allowable amount.
Note: The PORAC plan is available only to dues-paying members of those organizations and their families.
PERS Select, PERS Choice, & PERSCare
(Administered by Blue Cross of California)
P.O. Box 60007
Los Angeles, CA 90060-0007
(877) PERS PPO or 737-7776
(818) 234-5141 (outside of the continental U.S.)
(818) 234-3547 (TDD)
P.O. Box 629 (for direct premium payments)
Woodland Hills, CA 91365-0629
Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC)
(Administered by Blue Cross of California)
For eligibility issues contact:
4010 Truxel Road
Sacramento, CA 95834
(800) 937-6722 (PORAC)
For benefits or claim information, contact:
Blue Cross of California
Attn: PORAC Unit
P.O. Box 60007
Los Angeles, CA 90060-0007
(800) 288-6928 (Blue Cross)
Qualification
Staff
To qualify for health benefits you must initially have an appointment that exceeds six continuous months and one day, at a time base of at least one-half (20 hours or more per work week), however, to continue benefits you only need to maintain an appointment of at least one-half.
Faculty
To qualify for health benefits you must initially have an Academic Year appointment at a time base of .50 weighted teaching units (7.5).
Lecturers covered under AB211
To qualify for health benefits you must have a semester appointment at a time base of .40 weighted teaching units (6 units).
***If at anytime your appointment with the University no longer meets the above requirements, your benefits will automatically be cancelled and you will be given the opportunity to continue your benefits by enrolling into the COBRA program.