If you have qualifying group health and/or dental insurance through a spouse, domestic partner, parent, or another source, you have the option to receive cash in lieu of your state-sponsored health and/or dental benefits. Qualifying group health coverage includes health coverage that provides minimum value as established by the federal Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (ACA) and is maintained by an employer or employee organization. All state CalPERS health plans currently meet the law's minimum value standards.
The ACA establishes a minimum value standard of benefits of a health plan. For a qualifying group health plan to meet the ACA's minimum value standards, the plan must cover at least 60 percent of the total allowed costs of benefits provided under the plan. Employees may refer to their plan's Summary of Benefits and Coverage document to determine if their coverage meets the law's minimum value standards.
Employees enrolled in individual coverage, such as TRICARE, Medicare, Medi-Cal, and Covered California, are not eligible to receive cash in lieu of other health coverage, even if the coverage provides minimum value.
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Benefits of the Cash Option
Cash option benefits are provided under the FlexElect program. Depending on which cash option you enroll in, you'll receive the following:
- $128/month in lieu of health benefits;
- $12/month in lieu of dental benefits; or
- $140/month in lieu of health and dental benefits.
This money is treated as taxable income and is reported on your W-2 statement for the tax year when you receive payment. Cash option payments are not considered compensation for retirement purposes.
This plan applies to employees in Bargaining Units 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, and 21. Excluded employees and employees in Bargaining Units 2, 7, 8, 16, 17, 18, and 19: You're covered by Consolidated Benefits (CoBen) and your cash option is available through CoBen, not FlexElect. Contact your department's personnel office for information and forms to enroll in a CoBen Cash Option.
SEIU Local 1000 represented employees and excluded classes tied to SEIU are not eligible to participate in the FlexElect or CoBen
Cash Options until July 1, 2022, due to receiving other negotiated benefits. Please contact your department's personnel office to learn more about eligibility.
Before Enrolling in a Cash Option
The cash option is designed to expand your benefit options, not limit or decrease important health and/or dental coverage for you and your family. Accordingly, it is important to make sure your health and dental needs are met before you enroll in a cash option.
If you are eligible to receive survivor health and dental benefits after the death of a spouse or domestic partner, you can continue to receive the cash.
Who May Enroll in a Cash Option?
You are eligible to enroll in a cash option if
you have a permanent position that is half- time or more. If you have a limited
term (LT) or temporary (TAU) position, you are eligible if you have a mandatory
right of return to a permanent position that is half-time or more.
If you are a permanent-intermittent employee, you may enroll in the cash option.
If you are in Bargaining Unit 6, you may not
enroll in the cash option for dental benefits. This restriction is set by the
union's Benefit Trust. However, you may enroll in the cash option for health
benefits.
When May I Enroll?
Your first opportunity to enroll in a cash option is within 60 days after becoming "newly eligible" for these benefits. However, for many employees the typical time to enroll is during the annual Open Enrollment period.
Newly eligible
Besides the annual Open Enrollment period, you also have the opportunity to enroll in a cash option within 60 days after becoming "newly eligible." Newly eligible events are as follows:
- You're a new state employee hired after the Open Enrollment period.
- You were on an approved leave of absence during the entire Open Enrollment period.
- You experience a change in status that permits you to enroll as newly eligible. If your change in status results in a concurrent approved leave of absence (e.g., birth of child followed by a maternity leave), you may enroll by the deadlines specified below after you return to work.
- Your time base/employee designation changes from one that was ineligible to one that is eligible, or you change from a permanent-intermittent position to a permanent position with a time base of half-time or more.
(If you're a permanent-intermittent employee, refer to "Cash Option for Permanent-Intermittent Employees" for more details.)
Deadline for newly eligible employees to enroll:
If you are newly eligible and want to enroll, you must submit enrollment forms to your department's personnel office within 60 days after becoming newly eligible. Correctly completed forms received at the State Controller's Office (SCO) by the tenth of the month are effective the 1st of the following month (except when the tenth is on a weekend or holiday, in which case the cut-off date will be on the next regular workday). If SCO receives your form after the tenth of the month, the effective date will be the 1st of the next following month.
Administrative Fee
If you enroll in a cash option, a $1.00 fee is deducted from your after-tax salary each month. This fee covers administrative costs of the program.
Cash Option for Bargaining Unit 6 employees
If you're in Bargaining Unit 6, you may not enroll in the cash option for dental benefits. This restriction is set by the union's Benefit Trust. However, you may enroll in the cash option for health benefits.
Cash Option for Permanent-Intermittent Employees (PIs)
If you're a PI employee and want to receive cash in lieu of your health and/or dental benefits, you must enroll each plan year you want to participate. You must complete the enrollment form (STD. 701C) during Open Enrollment, or as "newly eligible" after Open Enrollment but prior to January 1. In order to receive the cash payment, you also must meet all the following criteria:
- Be eligible to enroll in health and/or dental insurance as of January 1, 2021 (i.e., you qualified in the July 1- December 31, 2020 control period).
- Have a permanent-intermittent appointment from January 1, 2021, through June 30, 2021.
- Be paid for at least 480 hours worked from January through June 2021.
Lump sum payment: If you enroll in a cash option for health and/or dental benefits as a permanent-intermittent employee, you will receive your payment in a lump sum. The amount is for the period of January through June; you are not eligible for the cash option for the July through December period. After June 30, 2021, once your department's personnel office certifies your eligibility based on the criteria listed above, you will receive your cash option payment as follows:
- $768 in lieu of health benefits.
- $72 in lieu of dental benefits.
- $840 in lieu of health and dental benefits.
These payments are made within 60 days after the SCO receives the certification from your department's personnel office. The $1.00 monthly administrative fee ($12 total for the plan year) is deducted from your lump sum payment.
Impact of Time Base Changes
If you're appointed to a permanent position with a time base of half-time or more, you lose eligibility for the PI cash payment. If you want to enroll as a newly eligible permanent employee, you must complete a new
STD. 701C within 60 days after your appointment.
Changes and Cancellations
Once you enroll in a cash option, you can't cancel or change your enrollment during the plan year (January 1 through December 31) unless you experience a change in status, called a "permitting event." See the complete list of status changes that permit you to cancel or change your enrollment. Outside of a permitting event, you may only change your election during the annual Open Enrollment window.
If you're enrolled in a cash option when you retire, your cash option will stop automatically. You need to take the following actions to protect your benefits:
If enrolled in cash option for health benefits: You have 30 days prior to or 60 days following the date of your retirement to enroll in CalPERS' health plan. If you don't enroll within this time period, you must wait until the next health Open Enrollment. Your enrollment at that point would be handled through CalPERS.
If enrolled in cash option for dental benefits: You have 30 days prior to or 60 days following the date of your retirement to enroll in a dental plan. If you don't enroll within this time period, you must wait until the next dental Open Enrollment. If you enroll prior to retirement, your dental enrollment will be processed through your department's personnel office. If you enroll following retirement, your enrollment is handled through CalPERS.
Payroll status changes
In addition to the permitting events listed below, here are some other payroll status changes and how they affect your FlexElect enrollment:
- Non-Industrial Disability Insurance (NDI): If you go on NDI while enrolled in a cash option, your cash option payment remain in effect and will be reflected on your NDI check.
- Industrial Disability Leave (IDL) and Temporary Disability (TD): If you go on IDL or TD while enrolled in a FlexElect Cash Option, your enrollment remains in effect. You will receive a separate check for your cash option, issued about a week after your IDL or TD check.
- State Disability Insurance (SDI) for employees in Bargaining Units 1, 3, 4, 11, 14, 15, 20 and 21: If you go on SDI while enrolled in a cash option, your enrollment will stop while you are on leave unless you supplement your SDI. If you supplement your SDI, the deductions will continue. If you return to pay status in the same FlexElect plan year, your enrollment will resume.
- Unpaid Leave of Absence: If you are on an unpaid leave of absence while enrolled in a cash option, your enrollment will stop while you are on leave. If you return to pay status in the same FlexElect plan year, your enrollment will resume.
- Military Leave: If you are called to active military duty for the War on Terrorism, you are eligible to retain your state benefits for up to 365 calendar days (Government Code section 19775.18) above the 180 calendar days provided by Government Code section 19775.17. If you are currently receiving FlexElect cash in lieu of health and/or dental benefits, you may continue to receive the cash for the duration of your military leave, not to exceed the time limits mentioned above. Military Leave is not a permitting event to newly enroll into the FlexElect Cash Option.
Changes in Status "(permitting events)"
If you experience a change in status that's listed below, you're permitted to take the action that's listed next to that change. You have 60 days following the date of your status change to take the corresponding action.
Your completed form(s) must be received at the SCO by the tenth of the month to be effective on the first of the following month.
Initial appointment to state service (includes reinstatement following a permanent break in service)
May enroll in cash option as newly eligible.
Marriage
May enroll in cash option as newly eligible or, if currently enrolled, may cancel/change cash option.
Divorce (date of final divorce), legal separation, or annulment
May cancel cash option and enroll into health and/or dental.
Death of spouse or domestic partner
May enroll in cash as newly eligible or, if currently enrolled, may cancel/change FlexElect elections.
Loss or commencement of spouse's or domestic partner's employment
If currently enrolled, may cancel/change cash option. New enrollment into cash is not allowed.
Loss of medical and/or dental coverage provided through spouse, domestic partner, or other source, due to an employment status change
If currently enrolled in cash option, may cancel/change cash option. New enrollments are not allowed.
Commencement of medical and/or dental coverage provided through spouse, domestic partner, survivor benefits, or other source, due to an employment status change
May enroll in cash option as newly eligible or, if currently enrolled, may cancel/change cash option.
Change in bargaining unit or employee designation (e.g., transfer, promotion) that results in a loss or gain of eligibility for cash option
If currently enrolled in health and/or dental plan, may change coverage or cancel/change cash option per union requirements. New enrollments are not allowed.
Instructions for Completing the Form
The forms to enroll in the Cash Option are linked below. Refer to the following instructions when completing these forms. Please type or print using a ballpoint pen. All sections must be completed. Missing information may result in a processing delay and impact the effective date of coverage.
Cash Option Enrollment Authorization (STD. 701C): If you want to enroll for the first time, cancel, or make changes to your current cash option, you must complete:
In addition to the cash option enrollment form, you must complete the
CalPERS Health Benefits Enrollment Form (HBD-12) if you want to do the following:
- Change or cancel your current health coverage.
- Add or delete an eligible dependent if a covered dependent has a change in eligibility.
You also must complete the
Dental Enrollment Form (STD. 692) if you want to do the following:
- Change or cancel your current dental coverage.
- Add or delete an eligible dependent if a covered dependent has a change in eligibility.
The health and dental forms must be submitted to your department's personnel office along with your cash option enrollment form (if you're making the changes indicated above). Both forms are available from your department's personnel office.
When husband and wife or domestic partners both work for the state: If you're an enrollee canceling your health and/or dental coverage to go on your spouse's or domestic partner's plan, who also is a state employee, you and your department's personnel staff must coordinate submission of the health, dental, and cash option enrollment forms for you and your spouse/domestic partner.
The effective date for canceling your coverage, and the date for your spouse or domestic partner to add you as a dependent, should be the same. The health and/or dental enrollment forms for you and your spouse/domestic partner must be submitted as a package with your cash option enrollment form.
In addition to the cash option enrollment form, you must complete the
CalPERS Health Benefits Enrollment Form (HBD-12) if you want to do the following:
- Change or cancel your current health coverage.
- Add or delete an eligible dependent if a covered dependent has a change in eligibility.
You also must complete the
Dental Enrollment Form (STD. 692) if you want to do the following:
- Change or cancel your current dental coverage.
- Add or delete an eligible dependent if a covered dependent has a change in eligibility.
The health and dental forms must be submitted to your department's personnel office along with your cash option enrollment form (if you're making the changes indicated above). Both forms are available from your department's personnel office.
When husband and wife or domestic partners both work for the state: If you're an enrollee canceling your health and/or dental coverage to go on your spouse's or domestic partner's plan, who also is a state employee, you and your department's personnel staff must coordinate submission of the health, dental, and cash option enrollment forms for you and your spouse/domestic partner.
The effective date for canceling your coverage, and the date for your spouse or domestic partner to add you as a dependent, should be the same. The health and/or dental enrollment forms for you and your spouse/domestic partner must be submitted as a package with your cash option enrollment form.
Cash Option Enrollment Authorization
Section 1 - Enrollment
- If you're enrolling during the annual Open Enrollment period, check Item A.
- If you're "newly eligible" enrolling outside the Open Enrollment period due to a permitting event, check Item B.
- If you're changing your enrollment due to a permitting event, check Item C.
- If you're canceling your enrollment, check Item D.
Section 2 - Social Security Number
Enter your Social Security number.
Section 3 - Name
Print your first name, middle initial, and last name.
Section 4 - Cash Option
Health Coverage: If choosing to receive the cash option in lieu of your health benefits, enter $128 in Item A. If you don't want to receive the cash and wish to keep your state-sponsored health plan, enter N/A in Item A.
Dental Coverage: If choosing to receive the cash option in lieu of your dental coverage, enter $12 in Item B. If you don't want to receive the cash and wish to keep your state-sponsored dental plan, enter N/A in Item B.
Total Cash: If choosing to receive the cash option in lieu of your health and dental coverage, enter the total cash option amount (sum of Items A and B) in Item C.
Section 5 - SCO Use Only
SCO will complete.
Section 6 - Statement of Other Medical and/or Dental Coverage
If choosing the cash option in lieu of health and/or dental benefits, you must complete Item 6. In Item A and/or B, list the carrier for your other health and/or dental insurance. In Item C, check the box showing who you have your other coverage through. If your coverage is through your spouse or domestic partner, you also must complete Item D including their Social Security number.
Section 7 - Employee Signature
Read this section carefully, then sign and date the form on the line marked. This section contains important information you should be aware of when enrolling. Your signature certifies you have other health and/or dental coverage and that you have read the information and agree to the terms and conditions of the program as outlined on the STD. 701C and on this website.
Sections 8-23
Your department's personnel office must complete.
We recommend you make a copy of your completed form before you send it to your department's personnel office. Once your department's personnel office completes the "Agency Use Only" sections, the original copy is forwarded to the State Controller's Office along with any other necessary forms (e.g., HBD-12, STD. 692). Your department's personnel office has been instructed to keep a copy in your personnel file and send you a copy.
Forms and Publications
