Managing a Chronic Illness
Tools to help you feel supported.
Your benefits are designed to help you move forward with confidence.
If you’re managing a chronic condition, you know that it can affect your time, energy, and finances. No matter where you are on your journey, you don’t have to manage it alone. Explore resources that help you stay grounded. Shape the support that works best for your schedule and goals. Grow with tools that keep you moving forward, one step at a time. A chronic condition is a long-lasting health issue that requires ongoing management, such as diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and kidney disease.
Medical Plans
Caltech’s medical plans provide you with coverage for primary care, preventive care, virtual and specialists visits, and ongoing treatment for chronic conditions.
How You’re Supported
- Access to providers who understand your condition, monitor your progress, and guide your long-term care.
- Stay ahead of any potential issues with screenings, annual exams, labs, and vaccinations.
- Get support quickly when you need it most with virtual care.
Prescription Drug Coverage
With any of Caltech’s medical plans, you automatically have access to prescription drug coverage, including generics, brand-name drugs, and specialty medications.
How You’re Supported
- Stay on track with the medications you rely on.
- Use mail-order options for convenience and cost savings.
Dental and Vision Care
Your dental and vision benefits give you access to preventive coverage to keep your smile and eyes healthy.
How You’re Supported
- Maintain your oral health which can be closely connected to chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
- Stay informed of any vision changes early, including those linked to chronic illnesses or medications.
Medical Plan Assistance
Included Health offers a personalized care navigation service that helps you find high-quality providers, get second opinions, and understand your treatment options. It is available at no cost if you are enrolled in a Caltech medical plan.
How You’re Supported
- Receive assistance confirming your benefits coverage and reviewing your options.
- Coordination for complex issues with your insurance and doctor.
- Connects you with experts who can help guide long-term care decisions.
- Offers second opinions and doctor referral services.
Anthem Concierge
If you have an Anthem medical plan, you have access to a personal health advocate to help with your health questions.
How You’re Supported
- Makes it easier to coordinate ongoing care, and understand coverage for tests and treatments.
- Stay ahead of costs related to long-term management with guidance from the concierge.
- Receive assistance from a pharmacy concierge to find lower-cost medications and set up mail-order prescriptions.
Short- and Long-Term Disability (STD and LTD)
STD and LTD offer you income protection if an illness prevents you from working for either a temporary or extended period.
How You’re Supported
- Provides financial stability during flare-ups, treatment cycles, or short periods when symptoms make work difficult.
- Offers ongoing financial security if your condition progresses or requires long-term recovery.
Critical Illness
This insurance provides a cash benefit if you’re diagnosed with a covered condition.
How You’re Supported
- Helps offset unexpected costs during a major health event.
- Covered costs can range from travel to treatment to everyday expenses.
Hospital Indemnity Insurance
This insurance pays cash benefits if you’re admitted to the hospital for a covered stay.
How You’re Supported
- Helps cover out-of-pocket costs if you are hospitalized because of your condition or complications.
Long-Term Care Insurance
This insurance helps cover the cost of extended care services and gives you added financial protection for the future.
How You’re Supported
- Offers financial security if your condition leads to long-term care needs or daily living support.
Legal Services
You can get access to legal advice and services for common needs like wills, trusts, medical directives, and power-of-attorney documents.
How You’re Supported
- Makes it easy to put important documents in place so you can plan ahead with clarity and peace of mind.
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Link to: Legal Services page
Financial Wellness: Saving and Spending Accounts
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Savings Account (FSAs) are tax-advantaged accounts that let you set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible healthcare expenses. If you are enrolled in the Anthem High Deductible PPO Plan, you can open an HSA. All employees are eligible to open an FSA.
How You’re Supported
- Gives you a flexible way to manage ongoing costs like prescriptions, specialist visits, and supplies.
- With an HSA, invest your savings when you reach $1,000 to grow your money for future needs.
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Link to: Financial Wellness landing page
Mental Wellness: Program and Resources
You have access to confidential counseling through the Employee Assistance Program, in-network therapy and care through your health plan, and a range of community and wellness resources.
How You’re Supported
- Gives you the space to process the emotional impact of long-term health needs.
- Manage stress or burnout.
- Build resilience over time.
- Offers financial, legal, and work life resources.
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Link to: Mental Wellness landing page
Physical Wellness: Fitness Offerings
You have access to discounted gym memberships, and fitness and wellness programs and tools through your health plan.
How You’re Supported
- Makes it easier to stay active in ways that support your energy, mobility, and overall health.
- Helps you build habits that fits your needs and comfort level.
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Link to: Physical Wellness landing page
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Sick Leave
Paid time off you can use for everyday health needs, short recovery periods, medical appointments or unexpected symptom changes.
How You’re Supported
- Offers flexibility for flare-ups, treatment days, or times when you simply don’t feel well enough to work.
- Helps you take care of your health without using vacation time or worrying about lost pay.
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Link to: Time off page
Employee Medical and Family Care Leaves
Depending on your situation, you may have access to medical leave, disability-related leave, or other programs that provide job-protected or income-protected time away.
How You’re Supported
- Gives you the time and stability you need during extended periods when you may be unable to work because of your condition.
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Link to: Time off page
- Take a few minutes to review the benefits on this page and note the ones that matter most for managing your condition day to day.
- Connect with Included Health or Anthem Concierge to get personalized guidance on your care, coverage, and the resources available to you.
- Explore additional protection options, including critical illness, hospital indemnity, or long-term care insurance to see whether they fit your needs now or in the future.
- Review your HSA and FSA options to help you manage costs.
- Remember to ensure all of your beneficiaries are up-to-date for your retirement, life insurance, and HSA plans.
- Save or bookmark the benefits you rely on most so you can easily return to them when you need information or support.