Welcome to Your State Benefits
Your benefits. Your wellbeing. Your life well lived.
Whether you’re new to state service, joining a different department or starting a position with new benefit options, understanding your benefits is an important step toward supporting your wellbeing.
Your employee benefits support five key elements of wellbeing: career, social, financial, physical and community wellbeing. These elements can help you find balance and purpose at work and at home.
Your wellbeing matters, and your benefits are here to support you every step of the way.
Three Things to Know First:
- You have 60 days from your date of hire to enroll in health, dental, vision and other benefits.
- You may be eligible for different benefits depending on your bargaining unit, employee designation and employment circumstances. Your eligibility and costs may also change when you move to a new department or position.
- Your departmental personnel office can help you understand your eligibility and enroll in benefits. Find your departmental personnel office.
If You are Newly Eligible Start Here
Find enrollment forms and keep a record of your benefit elections.
Review your benefit options to help choose the coverage that’s right for you.
Find and compare plans that fit your needs and budget.
Benefits To Enroll in Within 60 Days of Eligibility
Health
Health coverage is administered through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). You choose a plan and the state pays part of the premium. If you don’t enroll or decline within 60 days, you’ll need to wait for the next Open Enrollment.
Learn more: Health benefits page
Dental
Dental coverage is administered through CalHR. Depending on your bargaining unit, you can choose from a Prepaid, Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), or Indemnity plan. The state pays part of the premium. If you don’t enroll or decline within 60 days, you’ll need to wait for the next Open Enrollment.
Learn more: Dental benefits page
Premier Vision
Vision coverage is administered through CalHR. You’re automatically enrolled in Basic vision coverage at no cost. You can upgrade to the Premier plan for additional coverage. If you want Premier coverage, you must enroll within 60 days of your date of hire or during Open Enrollment.
Learn more: Vision benefits page
Dependent Verification
If you enroll a spouse, domestic partner or children to your health, dental or Premier vision benefits, you’ll need to verify their eligibility. Your personnel specialist can help you submit the Dependent Verification Form.
Cash Options
If you have health or dental coverage elsewhere, such as through a spouse’s plan, you may be eligible to get cash instead of state coverage.
Learn more: Cash Options Page
Reimbursement Accounts (FlexElect)
These accounts let you set aside pre-tax money for medical or dependent care costs, which lowers your taxable income. You must enroll within 60 days of your date of hire or during Open Enrollment.
Learn more: FlexElect Reimbursement Accounts page
Group Legal Insurance
Group legal insurance connects you with attorneys and legal resources for personal legal issues. You must enroll within 60 days of your date of hire or during Open Enrollment.
Learn more: Group Legal Services page
Benefits You Can Enroll in Anytime
Supplemental Life Insurance
If you’re an eligible excluded employee, you’re automatically enrolled in basic life insurance at no cost. You can purchase supplemental life insurance through MetLife.
Learn more: Group Term Life Insurance page
Long-Term Disability Insurance
Eligible excluded employees can enroll in long-term disability insurance, which replaces part of your income if you can’t work for six months or more due to illness or injury.
Learn more: Long-Term Disability Insurance page
Pet Insurance
Help protect your pets from unexpected veterinary expenses, including coverage for accidents, illnesses and routine care.
Learn more: Pet Insurance page
Pre-Tax Parking
If you pay for work-related parking and don’t have access to state-controlled or state-owned parking spaces or a department-sponsored parking program, you may be eligible to set aside pre-tax money to pay for parking.
Learn more: Pre-Tax Parking page
Savings Plus (401k/457b)
Savings Plus is a retirement savings program that supplements your CalPERS pension. You can enroll in Savings Plus at any time after you become eligible. Choose pre-tax or Roth (after-tax) payroll contributions to supplement your retirement benefits.
Learn more: Retirement & Voluntary Savings page
Automatic, No Action Needed
Basic Life Insurance
Eligible excluded employees are automatically enrolled in basic life insurance through MetLife at no cost.
Learn more: Group Term Life Insurance page
Basic Vision
You’re automatically enrolled in Basic vision coverage at no cost. You can upgrade to the Premier plan for additional coverage. If you want Premier coverage, you must enroll within 60 days of your date of hire or during Open Enrollment.
Learn more: Vision benefits page
Employee Assistance Program (Whole You)
Get confidential, no-cost support for mental health and everyday life challenges through Whole You, your Employee Assistance Program powered by Spring Health. The program is available to you and your eligible dependents, with now enrollment required.
Learn more: Employee Assistance Program page
Employee Wellness Program (Live Well)
Explore free, on-demand resources to help you thrive at work and at home. This program is available to you and your eligible dependents, with no enrollment required.
Learn more: Employee Wellness Program page
Need Help?
Questions about your eligibility or enrollment? Contact your departmental personnel office.
More Resources
- Visit the Benefits Orientation page to find more information about other employee benefits like sick leave, Public Service Loan Forgiveness and more.
- Check out our New Employee Benefits Orientation Forms page for copies of forms you may need to fill out as a new hire.
Subscribe Here for
Benefits Updates
Subscribe to the CalHR Benefits Division website for updates regarding
upcoming events and Open Enrollment information
