$50,524,000
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 2023-24 CSU budget plan includes $50.5 million to fund the base increase in employer-paid health care costs resulting from changes in premiums effective January 2023. The following chart indicates the Government Code (employer-paid) health care contribution increases from 2018 through 2023:
Government Code Health Care Monthly Employer Contribution Rates
Employee Only
| $725
| $734
| $767
| $798
| $816
| $883
| 21.8%
| $158
|
Employee + 1 dependent
| $1,377
| $1,398
| $1,461
| $1,519
| $1,548
| $1,699
| 23.4%
| $322
|
Employee + 2 or more
| $1,766
| $1,788
| $1,868 | $1,937
| $1,983
| $2,124
| 20.3%
| $358
|
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 $121.5 million.
Five-Year Increase in Health Care Costs
2019
| 1.3%
| 7,304,000 |
2020
| 4.5%
| 25,981,000
|
2021
| 3.8%
| 23,782,000 |
2022
| 2.2%
| $13,962,000 |
2023
| 8.0%
| $50,524,000
|
The 2023-24 budget request funds permanent base budget costs associated with January 2023 employer health care premium increases. The CSU must absorb approximately $25.3 million during 2022-23 to fund the one-time costs related to the January 2023 premium increases for the six-month period from January-June 2023.