Retiree Benefits
The County of Santa Clara provides retirement benefits to its long-term coded employees. These benefits are determined by a combination of factors, including age, length of qualified service, PERS member classification (miscellaneous or safety), and a contribution rate determined by bargaining unit agreements. Additionally, for eligible employees, the County provides access to retiree group health plans.
Open Enrollment
The County's annual Open Enrollment for Retiree medical insurance runs from May 1 to May 31. The effective date for any changes you make is July 1.
Retiree Benefit Plans Enrollment & Change Form
Retiree Guide
The Retiree Benefits Guide provides the information you need to make your benefit elections during this year's Open Enrollment period. Click on the image below to review the guide!
Open Enrollment Presentation & Workshops
This year, ESA is bringing back live, in-person information sessions. In addition, our benefit plan providers will be hosting online webinars in May. Please take a few minutes to review our 2023-24 Open Enrollment presentation.
Open Enrollment In-Person Information Sessions:
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Open Enrollment Online Webinars:
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Current Retiree Medical Rates
Retiree Medical Rates from the previous plan year
Future Retirees
Looking to Retire? Just want to be Prepared?
Check out the Retiree Benefits Overview to get a high level overview of what to expect.
If you are within one year or less before retirement, please review the following checklists to keep you on track towards your retirement:
Retirement Planning Resources:
- HR Benefits provides medical rate information as well as a checklist to help you through the retirement planning process.
- Log-in to MyCalPERS to access in-person and online classes (go to Find Classes to view dates and enroll), publications and online resources to estimate for your retirement, update your beneficiaries and make an appointment to meet with a representative.
- Fidelity Investments is your home for information on 457 Deferred Compensation workplace retirement savings plan and investments. Once you have logged into your account, you can register for Online Workshops (Live Web Workshops, with a presenter, or On-Demand Workshops, where you can learn on your own time, wherever you are), as well as schedule a 1:1 meeting with a Fidelity Retirement Planner.
Additional Resources:
- Log-in to MyCalPERS to access in-person and online classes (go to Find Classes to view dates and enroll), publications and online resources to estimate for your retirement, update your beneficiaries and make an appointment to meet with a representative.
- Fidelity Investments is your home for information on 457 Deferred Compensation workplace retirement savings plan and investments. Once you have logged into your account, you can schedule to meet with a representative, update your contributions, and register for On-Demand or Live Web Workshops
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides free, confidential counseling for individuals, couples, and families, in a private setting.
- Employee Wellness Division (EWD) helps you with your eight dimensions of health as you plan for retirement.
- Santa Clara County Federal Credit Union can assist you with many services, discounts, and resources, such as seminars and financial education as well as practical ideas to help you achieve financial security in retirement.
- sccLearn for web based training, videos, and books.
- Learn how to apply for Medicare coverage.
- Social Security provides online services for you to review your information, apply for benefits and manage your account.
Still have more questions? Read over our F.A.Q. Section below for commonly asked questions. If your questions are not on there, please send us an email at: [email protected]
Retirement FAQs
Phone: 1 (408) 970-2600
1 (800) 541-7749
Email: benefits@esa.sccgov.org
Retirees who have an out-of-pocket cost for retiree medical premiums must agree to pay through deduction from their CalPERS pension. Contact the Employee Benefits Department at (408) 970-2600 or toll free at (800) 541-7749 to obtain a CalPERS Direct Authorization Program form.
For those retirees who fully vest in the CalPERS pension and reach the age of eligibility under the County's benefit formula, your benefit is guaranteed and payable for life and you can receive payments wherever you live in the world.
If, at the time of retirement, you have not vested in the CalPERS pension (for most people, that amounts to at least five years of service) you can opt to take a lump-sum refund or rollover to another qualified retirement account or leave the contributions and interest in your account.
You can find out more about those options here. If you have any questions about your specific pension benefits, please contact CalPERS at: 888-CalPERS (888-225-7377).
Retirees may change their medical plan coverage during open enrollment every May. All changes will be effective July 1st.
No, the County provides retirees with prescription drug coverage that is equal to or greater than the drug coverage provided under Medicare Part D. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services notifies the County when a retiree and/or covered spouse enrolls in Medicare Part D or is covered on Medicare Part D through another group plan. The County will send a notice to the retiree advising them to disenroll within 30 days or risk losing their County sponsored medical coverage.
For retirees who qualify, the County offers medical insurance benefits to retirees that are similar to medical benefits that you receive as an active employee under the County's Retiree Medical Coverage program. For most retirees living in California, that means the County pays for the equivalent of single coverage under the Kaiser non-Medicare health plan.
If you decide to live outside of California in retirement and would like to keep County-offered coverage, the County offers HealthNet PPO and HealthNet Flexnet.
If you choose to waive County-offered coverage, the County of Santa Clara also offers a Payment In-Lieu program if you will permanently reside outside of California where you may receive compensation instead of medical insurance. To be eligible for this option, you must permanently reside outside of California and provide proof of coverage in major medical insurance. Payment In-Lieu is considered compensation and therefore taxable. A 7% California income tax is applied.
One note: Dental and Vision benefits are not included in the Retiree Medical package that we offer. You may elect dental or vision coverage under COBRA for as long as the program allows or other means upon retirement. These would be out-of-pocket expenses for you.
If at the time of retirement, you do not meet the eligibility criteria for the County’s Retiree Medical Coverage Program, you can buy health insurance for you and your dependents under COBRA for as long as the program allows, through a state health care exchange, or through a private insurance provider.
Refer to your Benefits Guide for more information about Retiree Medical eligibility. If you have any other questions about your specific retirement benefits, please email our retirement benefits team.
You will have to change your Medical Coverage due to moving out of state. Please call or email us if you if you have moved, or plan to move out of state.
There are options available to you should you move out of the service area of a particular plan. If you move out of the service area of your plan, you should contact the Employee Benefits Department within 30 days to determine which option is best for your situation.
Payment In-Lieu of Medical Coverage is an option available to Retirees who move out of the state of California. In order to qualify, you will need to reside outside of California and provide proof of other coverage. If you have Medicare A & B, your Medicare care is adequate proof of coverage. Please give us a call if you plan to switch to this program.
The County pays an amount equal to the Kaiser rate for the retiree only. If the retiree belongs to a plan that has a higher premium than the Kaiser rate, the retiree pays the difference. There is a monthly premium payment for dependents regardless of age.
You may add a new eligible dependent to your retiree medical within 30 days of a qualifying event or during the annual open enrollment period in May. Examples of a qualifying event are marriage, birth or adoption or a child, loss of other medical coverage.
Related Links
- Retirement Planning & Worksheet
Checklist and worksheet to keep you on track for retirement.
- Understanding Years of Service
Retirement Eligibility and Medical Eligibility
- Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS)
The County provides retirement benefits to its long-term coded employees who meet eligibility criteria.