$912,000
The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) administers CSU employee health care benefits. Health care premiums are shared between the CSU and its employees, with the CSU funding a significant portion of the costs. The 2017-18 CSU budget plan includes $0.9 million to fund the base increase in employer-paid health care costs resulting from changes in premiums effective January 2017. The following chart indicates the Government Code (employer-paid) health care contribution increases from 2013 through 2017:
Government Code Health Care Monthly Employer Contribution Rates
% |
$ |
Employee Only | $622 | $642 | $655 | $705 | $707 | 13.7% | $85 |
Employee + 1 dependent | $1,183 | $1,218 | $1,246 | $1,343 | $1,349 | 14.0% | $166 |
Employee + 2 or more | $1,515 | $1,559 | $1,605 | $1,727 | $1,727 | 14.0% | $1,212 |
The CSU is governed by Government Code Section 22871 that defines the way employer-paid health care contribution rates are calculated. Either through policy or collective bargaining agreement, the CSU covers health care costs for represented and non-represented employees up to an amount equivalent to the established Government Code rates, with the exception of Unit 6 (Skilled Crafts), which bargained for CSU employer health contribution rates slightly above Government Code rates.
The total increase in CSU health care costs due to contribution changes during this five-year period is more than $95 million.
5-Year Increase in Health Care Costs
2013 | 9.8% | $36,226,000 |
2014 | 3.0% | 12,066,000 |
2015 | 2.6% | 11,040,000 |
2016 | 7.7% | 35,080,000 |
2017 | 0.2% | 912,000 |
The 2017-18 budget request funds permanent base budget costs associated with January 2017 employer health care premium increases. The CSU must absorb approximately $0.5 million during 2016-17 to fund the one-time costs related to the January 2017 premium increases for the six-month period from January to June 2017.