For Parents

Easily help your student review their options, consider their needs, and decide what works for them.

What to Know

• Each summer, there is an enrollment/waiver period. Students have the option of enrolling in a Caltech student, medical, dental, and vision plan or they may waive Caltech coverage.
• Coverage is Required: All registered students must have medical and dental insurance.
• Students may waive medical and dental if they have other active insurance.
• If students don’t actively waive coverage by the deadline, they’ll automatically in medical and dental coverage for the entire academic year. The applicable costs will be charged to their bursar’s account.
• Students will not automatically be enrolled in vision coverage.
• Student coverage elections/waivers are not renewed, including for any covered dependents. Students must complete the enrollment/waiver process each year.

What to Consider
Caltech’s student medical plan is designed to be a seamless option for local access and coordination. If you’re considering continuing your student’s coverage on your medical plan, here are a few questions to think through:

1. Will your student have coverage on your current plan while they are at school?
   • For example, if you have an HMO or other managed care plan, coverage is often limited outside the home region. It’s important to ensure if you have in-network primary care, urgent care, and specialty providers near campus.
2. How do referrals/authorization work on your current plan?
   • For example, if your plan is an HMO or other managed care plan, your student may need to coordinate through a primary care provider at home which can create delays, especially for specialty care, mental health services, or imaging.
3. What are the true total costs beyond the premium?
   • If you are considering waiving the student plan for premium savings, you should think through potential out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles, copays, and especially out-of-network care or hitting the out-of-pocket maximum. In some cases, lower premiums can be offset by higher costs if care is needed way from the home network.
4. If your student is planning to study or travel abroad, does your current plan cover medical services outside of the country?

The Caltech Medical, Dental, and Vision plans all offer coverage while traveling outside of the US. Once you return home, you can submit reimbursement claims for services received abroad.