"The state paid $458 million in 2001 (0.6 percent of the general fund) for state worker retiree health care and is expected to pay $2 billion (1.7 percent of the general fund) next fiscal year -- up 80 percent in just the last decade.... The debt or 'unfunded liability' for retiree health care promised state workers has grown to $74.1 billion ... much larger than the unfunded liability reported by CalPERS for state worker pensions, $43.3 billion.... The state usually pays 100 percent of the health care insurance premium for retirees and 90 percent of the premium for dependents."

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