The subsidy
- Before Medicare: up to $230 a month.
- With Medicare: up to $115 a month.
- Under 20 years: 5% less for each missing year. Six months or more rounds up to a year.
- It goes toward the health premium only, not dental or vision.
PERACare Pre-Medicare 2026 pp. 16-17 (maximum $230, Monthly Subsidy Chart); PERACare Medicare 2026 pp. 12-13 (maximum $115, Medicare Benefit Recipient Monthly Subsidy Chart); C.R.S. 24-51-1206(2), (3)
By years of service
Worked out from the rule above. Bold rows are the ones printed in PERA's 2026 subsidy charts; they match.
| Years | Before Medicare | With Medicare |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $11.50 | $5.75 |
| 2 | $23.00 | $11.50 |
| 3 | $34.50 | $17.25 |
| 4 | $46.00 | $23.00 |
| 5 | $57.50 | $28.75 |
| 6 | $69.00 | $34.50 |
| 7 | $80.50 | $40.25 |
| 8 | $92.00 | $46.00 |
| 9 | $103.50 | $51.75 |
| 10 | $115.00 | $57.50 |
| 11 | $126.50 | $63.25 |
| 12 | $138.00 | $69.00 |
| 13 | $149.50 | $74.75 |
| 14 | $161.00 | $80.50 |
| 15 | $172.50 | $86.25 |
| 16 | $184.00 | $92.00 |
| 17 | $195.50 | $97.75 |
| 18 | $207.00 | $103.50 |
| 19 | $218.50 | $109.25 |
| 20+ | $230.00 | $115.00 |
PERA's charts: 1 years $11.50 / $5.75; 5 years $57.50 / $28.75; 10 years $115.00 / $57.50; 15 years $172.50 / $86.25; 20 years $230.00 / $115.00. PERACare Pre-Medicare 2026 pp. 16-17 (maximum $230, Monthly Subsidy Chart); PERACare Medicare 2026 pp. 12-13 (maximum $115, Medicare Benefit Recipient Monthly Subsidy Chart); C.R.S. 24-51-1206(2), (3)
Enrolling
Enroll with your retirement paperwork or within 30 days after the first benefit payment; coverage can start on the retirement date or up to six months later; annual open enrollment each fall. Retirement Process p. 11, Enrolling in PERACare at Retirement
For a recipient 65+ not entitled to Medicare Part A, the subsidy is set so the premium matches that of a Part A recipient with the same service and plan; members without an account on Dec. 31, 2009 need 10 years of non-DPS service for this. C.R.S. 24-51-1206(4), (6)
Critical-shortage working retirees get no PERACare subsidy (Working After Retirement (rev. July 2026), p. 2).
From the sources
- PERA retirees can join PERACare for health, dental and vision coverage, and your spouse can join too. Coverage can start on your retirement date or up to six months later, and there is open enrollment every fall.Retirement Process p. 11, Enrolling in PERACare at Retirement
- PERA pays a monthly subsidy toward your PERACare health premium, but not toward dental or vision. With 20 or more years of service, it is $230 before Medicare and $115 with Medicare.PERACare Pre-Medicare 2026 p. 16; PERACare Medicare 2026 p. 12
- With less than 20 years of service, the subsidy is 5% lower for each missing year: $11.50 a year of service before Medicare, $5.75 a year with Medicare. Six months or more counts as a full year.PERACare Pre-Medicare 2026 p. 17, Monthly Subsidy Chart; PERACare Medicare 2026 p. 13; C.R.S. 24-51-1206(3)
- If you choose Option 2 or 3, your cobeneficiary can keep PERACare after you die, and your subsidy moves to them.Retirement Process p. 3; Understanding Your Benefit Estimate PDF p. 3
Questions
What is PERACare?
PERA's health, dental and vision coverage for retirees. Joining is optional, and your spouse can join too.
How much does PERA pay toward PERACare?
A monthly subsidy toward the health premium: up to $230 before Medicare and $115 with Medicare, with 20 or more years of service. It doesn't cover dental or vision.
What if I have less than 20 years?
The subsidy drops 5% for each year under 20. Six months or more counts as a full year.
When do I enroll?
With your retirement paperwork, or within 30 days after your first benefit payment. Coverage can start on your retirement date or up to six months later. There's open enrollment every fall.
Source: Your PERA Benefits: A Summary of the Colorado PERA Defined Benefit Plan, Revised April 2026, p. 5. Also: PERACare Pre-Medicare 2026 pp. 16, 16-17, 17; PERACare Medicare 2026 pp. 12, 12-13, 13; C.R.S. 24-51-1206; Retirement Process pp. 2, 3, 11; Understanding Your Benefit Estimate. Last reviewed .