CalPERS Responds

All Categories



Myths vs. Facts - National Health Care Reform

Myth: CalPERS pays 100 percent of retiree health care costs. | Facts

Myth: Spending health care dollars on prevention and wellness programs does little to affect the overall cost of health care in our nation, our state and our communities. | Facts

Myth: CalPERS members will have no choice in what health benefits they receive. They will have to go into a public plan. | Facts

Myth: If CalPERS is not affected by the national health care policy changes that could come, why should we care? | Facts

Myth: If nothing occurs in Washington this year, it won’t really matter because CalPERS already operates its own system of health benefits. | Facts


Myths vs. Facts - Investments

Myth: CalPERS cannot come back from billions in losses. | Facts

Myth: CalPERS uses “risky” investment strategies and assumptions. | Facts

Myth: CalPERS is doing very little to manage its real estate portfolio. | Facts

Myth: CalPERS is shying away from stocks in favor of private equity. | Facts


Myths vs. Facts - Pension Security

Myth: Government workers don’t contribute to their pensions; taxpayers are on the hook to pay those costs. | Facts

Myth: CalPERS pensioners can "goose" their retirement benefit upward by manipulating the income that gets included in their final year of compensation. | Facts

Myth: The average CalPERS pensioner gets 80 percent of their pay. | Facts

Myth: CalPERS Board is focused on benefit enhancements. | Facts

Myth: Police and firefighters retire at age 50 with 90 percent of pay. | Facts


Myths vs. Facts - Pension Financing

Myth: Pension Costs for the State of California have increased by 2000 percent in the last 10 years. | Facts

Myth: Public pension benefits are excessive and a drain on the public. | Facts

Myth: CalPERS said the SB 400 benefit enhancements would be free to the State forever. | Facts

Myth: CalPERS is going to run out of money because of baby boomers retiring. | Facts

Myth: Pensions are among the highest costs of State government. | Facts