<p>What have people done about their existing family health insurance in light of the insurance required by Caltech? I would save some $$$ by dropping family coverage, but I am worried that the $250K cap on benefits from Caltech would not be much protection for a catastrophic disease or injury (our family policy provides $2 million). How have other folks dealt with this?</p>
<p>My parents just kept me on their insurance. (Mom is a public school teacher and thus has excellent benefits, so it was some very trivial cost to do this.) I used the Caltech insurance out there and our family insurance when I was home.</p>
<p>I think it is possible to buy (probably for not too expensive) a "catastrophic only" policy that doesn't kick in until some high dollar value. That might meet your needs in conjunction with the Caltech insurance.</p>
<p>Mine did the same as Joe's -- they kept me on their policy and I use theirs when I go home (usually for regular check-ups and dentist appointments) and Caltech's in California. I quickly realized that almost nowhere here accepted my parent's health insurance, and even if they did, Caltech's was MUCH better.</p>
<p>Actually, I might just ask this same question in reverse. I'm starting as a grad student at Caltech in '07. Does anyone have experience using the Caltech health insurance wherever they come from? It seemed to be excellent in Southern California, but how is it accepted outside of the area?</p>
<p>We're keeping my son on our insurance because the cost is low and the coverage better. However, I have checked out the availability of the Caltech insurance. Participating doctors and hospitals are widely available. In fact, even here in the middle of midwestern cornfields, our family doctor is a preferred provider for the Caltech plan. Joe, if you'd like a link to check coverage in your area, let me know and I'll PM it to you. Incidentally, Caltech will pay 70% of the fees charged by non-preferred providers, so the insurance is still valid even if there are no preferred providers in the area. Also, students who are enrolled in three terms at Caltech, are covered year-round.</p>
<p>Hi Ellen, that would be nice if you could send that to me--thanks. It's not a huge deal as being a grad student, I wouldn't be home all that much, but it would be nice to know because I'd really prefer to keep my regular checkups and all of that with the usual people back home. (I'm also from a small midwestern town, you see! Plenty of cornfields around our house, although also a good portion of grapes.)</p>
<p>Also, do you know if Caltech still has the (pretty cheap, if I recall) dental coverage option?</p>
<p>I had the insurance for 4 years and did use it in summers at Caltech. The health center is extremely convenient and well-staffed. My first year of graduate school I used the student health center at the University of Michigan (only once, admittedly, so maybe on another occasion it would've been better) and I definitely felt a little like a number moving through the system. I also got to see only a PA whereas if there was a prescription involved, at least from what I remember, at Caltech Dr. Miller or one of the other MDs would do it.</p>
<p>Michigan does win points for having a pharmacy in the health center itself, whereas most places in Pasadena were a bit of a walk, but of course that's probably not possible at a smaller school.</p>
<p>The dental insurance was still available for the 2005-6 school year. I don't know if it will be for the upcoming one. During pre-frosh, the health center said there would be some changes, but didn't have any more information.</p>