Retiree Benefits

The following information provides an overview of benefits offered for employees into retirement. 

CSU Retiree Benefits Overview (PDF)

 

Health, Dental, Vision, Employer-Paid Life Insurance and Various Voluntary Benefits

  • CSU retiree medical and dental benefits are available to employees (and their eligible dependents) who retire within 120 days from the date of separation from employment (see below for recent changes to retiree health and dental vesting).

    • If enrolled in the Delta Dental enhanced level coverage as an active employee, retirees will have the option to continue enhanced coverage for a monthly fee or be covered at the basic level at no cost.

      To enroll in the Enhanced Dental Plan or make other changes, complete the CSU Retiree Dental Change/Enrollment Form and fax or mail to CalPERS within 60 days of retirement, or during any future Open Enrollment period.

  • Vision Insurance does not automatically continue into retirement. Vision insurance is a voluntary benefit and to continue it into retirement an employee must request enrollment by completing the VSP Retiree Vision Enrollment Form which is available at the campus benefits office or by visiting the CSU Retiree VSP Website. Once enrolled, the premiums will be deducted from the former employee's retirement check.
  • Employees may port the employer-paid life insurance plan, voluntary life insurance plan, and critical illness plan and pay for premiums once retired. Employees must already be enrolled in these plans at the time of retirement.
  • For more information regarding CSU retiree benefits visit http://csuretirees.calstate.edu.

 

"Vesting"

Employees are vested (eligible for retirement with retiree benefits) when they have 5 years or 10 years of CalPERS membership and have reached the minimum retirement age, based on their date of hire.

New 10 year Retiree Health and Dental Vesting Period
  • New faculty hired by the CSU for the first time and who first become CalPERS members on or after July 1, 2017 or non-represented  employees (Management, Confidental and Excluded groups) and represented employees in Units 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 hired by the CSU on or after July 1, 2018.

  • Both the new CSU hire and CalPERS membership must happen on or after July 1, 2017 for faculty or on or after July 1, 2018 for the other employees groups, cited above.  

  • Faculty working for the CSU prior to July 1, 2017 who become CalPERS members after July 1, 2017 are not subject to the new 10 year vesting period. 

  • Non-represented  employees (Management, Confidental and Excluded groups) and represented employees in Units 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 working for the CSU prior to July 1, 2018 who become CalPERS members after July 1, 2017 are not subject to the new 10 year vesting period.

  • New employees hired by the CSU for the first time on or after July 1, 2018 but who had prior CalPERS membership are not subject to the new 10 year vesting period.  
    • Government Code References:  
      • Non-Represented Employees - 22874.6 (Health) and 22958.3 (Dental)
      • Represented Employees (except Unit 3) - 22874.7 (Health) and 22958.4 (Dental) 
  • Prior state employment (non CSU) is not considered "CSU" employment.
How is the 10 year service credit vesting period calculated?  
  • 10 years of CalPERS service credit as determined by CalPERS.
  • CalPERS service credit includes credit earned at any CalPERS public agency including the State of California (including CSU) and public contract agencies. 
  • Note:  CalPERS service credit does not include credit earned at a reciprocal agency such as the University of California.