Summary Plan Description
The Summary Plan Description (SPD), is a summary of the Caltech benefit program that focuses on our health, welfare, and retirement benefits. This benefits summary was created to help Faculty, Staff, and Postdoctoral Scholars understand the Caltech benefits program.
Click below for the SPD:
There are changes to the Caltech Base Retirement Plan for new employees hired on or after January 1, 2022, including an updated contribution formula and vesting schedule that are detailed in the link below.
If you need more health & welfare information that is not included in the SPD, review the documents below.
Medical Plans (Southern California)
Medical Plans (Outside Southern California)
Dental and Vision Plans
Disability Benefits
- Short Term Disability (STD) - Outside of CA
- Long Term Disability (LTD) – Staff
- Long Term Disability (LTD) - Faculty and Postdoctoral Scholars
Life Insurance and Personal Accident Insurance
Voluntary Benefits
- Unum Hospital Indemnity_Certificate
- Unum Critical Illness_Certificate
- Unum Accident_Certificate
- LegalShield_Overview
- IDShield_Overview
- Important_Notice for Unum & LegalShield
- Genworth Group Policy*
*Enrollment and payment is directly with the carrier.
Annual Required Notices
- 2026 Health and Welfare Required Legal Notices
- 2025 Health and Welfare Required Legal Notices
- 2025 Base Retirement Plan Fee Disclosure
- 2025 Voluntary Retirement Plan Fee Disclosure
- 2023 Combined Summary Annual Reports
- 2024 Qualified Default Investment Alternative (QDIA) Notice with Factsheets
- HIPAA Privacy Notice and Other Important Rules Impacting Health and Welfare
Contact the Caltech or JPL Benefits Office if you have any questions.
- Campus: 626-395-6443 or [email protected]
- JPL: 818-354-4447 or contact AskHR