Employees are eligible to participate in either the State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) or the Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) based on the position of classification and/or prior membership.
These programs provide a lifetime retirement allowance based on a retirement system formula that begins after five full-time years of service.
Associate faculty also have the option of participating in Social Security or the CalSTRS Cash Balance system which does not require any vesting.
The Payroll Department has information on 403(b) and 457 plans, as well as information on the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA).
Please contact Lisa Hotchkiss in the payroll department for questions about the retirement accounts above at lhotchkiss@santarosa.edu or 707-527-4200.
Please contact Christie Colón at ccolon@santarosa.edu or 707-527-4304 to set up a retirement meeting to discuss retiree health insurance.
- Considering Retirement?
- Below is information on the retirement process, including SRJC retiree health insurance and deadlines.
Pease use this sample template to let us know what your last day on pay will be at SRJC and what date you're retiring from CalSTRS or CalPERS: Sample retirement letter
Early Retirement Option (ERO)FACULTY
Retiring in December at the end of the Fall semester? The deadline to submit your ERO application and retirement letter to SRJC is the first Friday of the Fall semester.
Retiring at the end of the school year in May? The deadline to submit your ERO application and retirement letter to SRJC is October 1.
AFA eligibility information about the Early Retirement Option (ERO).
CLASSIFIED and MANAGEMENT
The deadline to submit your ERO application and retirement letter to SRJC is no later than 4 months before your retirement date.
SEIU eligibility information about the Early Retirement Option (ERO)
Deadline If You Don't Qualify for ERO
If you don't qualify for ERO, the deadline to submit your retirement letter to SRJC is no later than 3 months before your retirement date.
CalPERS And CalSTRS DeadlinesIf you're enrolled in CalPERS, review this CalPERS retirement planning checklist. Plan to submit your retirement application to CalPERS 3-4 months before your retirement date.
If you're enrolled in CalSTRS, review this CalSTRS retirement planning checklist. Plan to submit your retirement application to CalSTRS no earlier than 6 months before your retirement date.
Please call or email Christie Colón, SRJC Benefits Specialist, at 707-527-4304 or ccolon@santarosa.edu to set up a retirement meeting.
- Retired, over 65
SRJC offers a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medicare Supplement plan for those over age 65 through our membership in Self-Insured Schools of California (SISC). Enrollment in Medicare Parts A&B are required to be eligible for these plans. You'd pay Medicare directly for Parts A&B. You'd pay SRJC for the monthly Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plan premiums listed below. Rates change every October 1.
Kaiser Senior Advantage (Medicare Advantage plan)
The monthly premium for the SISC Kaiser Senior Advantage plan is $351.00/per person/per month. This plan is only available for those residing in the Northern California Bay Area region.
Benefit summary for Kaiser Senior Advantage Plan
SRJC SISC Kaiser Senior Advantage enrollment form
CompanionCare through Anthem (Medicare Supplement plan)
The monthly premium for the SISC CompanionCare plan is $469.00/per person/per month. This plan is available at any doctor in the United States who accepts "Medicare Assignment".
Benefit summary for CompanionCare through Anthem.
Anthem CompanionCare enrollment form
Value Added programs for all SISC Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement subscribers:
Silver&Fit Fitness Program for all retirees enrolled in CompanionCare.
One Pass Fitness Program for all retirees enrolled in Kaiser Senior Advantage.
RETIREE DENTAL INSURANCEDental plan administration is through Redwood Health Services in Santa Rosa.
Your retiree dental plan benefits with Redwood Health Services remain the same as when you were an active employee. You can also continue to use a non-network provider. This plan includes more than 750 participating dentists. A PPO network is available for those outside the range of the current network.
The annual dental benefit provided each benefit year is $1,700.00 per person. The plan year is from October 1 to September 30.
The plan costs $84 for one person/month; $169 for 2 people/month; or $235.85 for 3 or more people/month.
List of Participating Dentists
Dental enrollment form (to enroll for the first time or make changes to your plan)
Redwood Health Services will process and pay claims. You can check the status of claims or print a temporary card by logging in to: https://services.hi-techhealth.com/rhs/pages/member_signon.shtml. If you have any questions, please contact Redwood Health Services:
Redwood Health Services
3510 Unocal Place, #108
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Customer service #: 800-548-7677, extension 2
Email: rhscustomerservice@rhs.orgRETIREE HEALTH STIPENDYou may be eligible to receive the retiree health stipend:
- Faculty
- ERO Eligible
RETIREE MEDICAL INSURANCE
For retirees who qualify for the Early Retirement Option (ERO), the District offers retiree medical and dental coverage for you and your eligible dependents at the same coverage rate as active employees through the end of the month prior to your 65th birthday.
ERO Rates for Management retirees
ERO Rates for Faculty and Classified retirees
For retirees who qualify for the Early Retirement Option (ERO), the District offers a choice of these medical plans through our membership in Self-Insured Schools of California (SISC). Please click on the links below to view the Benefit Summaries of these plans:
- Kaiser Permanente HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Deductible plan with a Health Savings Account (HSA). This is a HMO deductible plan.
- Blue Shield of California HMO
- Blue Shield of California PPO
- Blue Shield of California PPO Deductible plan with a Health Savings Account (HSA). This is a PPO deductible plan.
If your spouse is over age 65 while you're on the ERO, HR will reach out to you to discuss Medicare enrollment.
RETIREE DENTAL INSURANCEDental plan administration is through Redwood Health Services in Santa Rosa.
Your retiree dental plan benefits with Redwood Health Services remain the same as when you were an active employee. You can also continue to use a non-network provider. This plan includes more than 750 participating dentists. A PPO network is available for those outside the range of the current network.
The annual dental benefit provided each benefit year is $1,700.00 per person. The plan year is from October 1 to September 30.
List of Participating Dentists
Dental enrollment form (to enroll for the first time or make changes to your plan)
Redwood Health Services will process and pay claims. You can check the status of claims or print a temporary card by logging in to: https://services.hi-techhealth.com/rhs/pages/member_signon.shtml. If you have any questions, please contact Redwood Health Services:
Redwood Health Services
3510 Unocal Place, #108
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Customer service #: 800-548-7677, extension 2
Email: rhscustomerservice@rhs.org- Not ERO Eligible
For retirees who don't qualify for the Early Retirement Option (ERO) and are under age 65
RETIREE MEDICAL INSURANCEThe District offers a choice of these medical plans through our membership in Self-Insured Schools of California (SISC). Please click on the links below to view the Benefit Summaries of these plans:
- Kaiser Permanente HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Deductible plan with a Health Savings Account (HSA). This is a HMO deductible plan.
- Blue Shield of California HMO
- Blue Shield of California PPO
- Blue Shield of California PPO Deductible plan with a Health Savings Account (HSA). This is a PPO deductible plan.
- If you or your spouse is over age 65 you can enroll in the Kaiser Senior Advantage plan or the Anthem CompanionCare Medicare Supplement plan if you're enrolled in Medicare Parts A&B.
2025-2026 Retiree Self Payer Rates
RETIREE DENTAL INSURANCEDental plan administration is through Redwood Health Services in Santa Rosa.
Your retiree dental plan benefits with Redwood Health Services remain the same as when you were an active employee. You can also continue to use a non-network provider. This plan includes more than 750 participating dentists. A PPO network is available for those outside the range of the current network.
The annual dental benefit provided each benefit year is $1,700.00 per person. The plan year is from October 1 to September 30.
List of Participating Dentists
Dental enrollment form (to enroll for the first time or make changes to your plan)
Redwood Health Services will process and pay claims. You can check the status of claims or print a temporary card by logging in to: https://services.hi-techhealth.com/rhs/pages/member_signon.shtml. If you have any questions, please contact Redwood Health Services:
Redwood Health Services
3510 Unocal Place, #108
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Customer service #: 800-548-7677, extension 2
Email: rhscustomerservice@rhs.org- CalSTRS Reduced Workload Program
To request participation in the CalSTRS Reduced Workload Program for the following school year, you must submit your request letter to HR by March 1.