High school performance is irrelevant when you are applying to Berkeley as a transfer. SAT scores, GPA, etc. are irrelevant. Sometimes, HS courses are used to clear the foreign language requirement for transferring, but that’s really it.
I’ve heard that it’s very hard to receive in-state tuition if you’re OOS, even after attending CCC. Talk to a counselor, perhaps. I don’t know.
I have no idea about anything insurance related.
If you get a 4.0 at CCC, complete all requirements, and get some solid ECs under your belt (preferably CS related ones!) then you stand a solid chance at getting into Berkeley. It’s definitely feasible. It’s HARD work, but if you set your mind to it, you CAN do it.
Ordinarily I’d say that, because OOS is so expensive, it should deter you from attending Berkeley. However, CS is a different major; UCB CS majors are swept up by Bay Area employers (much of Silicon Valley will adore you if you graduate from Berkeley). The ROI should be fairly good in your scenario, but you should consider how much school will cost you.
Talk to your parents as soon as possible to decide what you want to do.
HOWEVER, it must be noted that coming to California will not solve all of your problems. It is not the perfect image that you seem to view it as; any difficulties you will have in PA, you will have here.
Getting into Berkeley’s CS is very difficult, but it can be done. Your hand will not be held in the process, though. You will have to perform. You may have to go to multiple CC’s to get all of the courses you need completed. It is by no means an easy feat, but that alone should not discourage you, so long as you are sufficiently motivated.
(For reference, my lowest GPA in high school was a 0.73. I have a 4.0 currently, and likely will transfer to Cal in the Fall of 2016, although I ought not count my chickens before they hatch.)
Edit: Also, as a CCC student, you will have guaranteed admission into certain UC’s. That may sway your parents’ opinion regarding going to a CC in CA. There are plenty of programs that you can take advantage of here.
Luckily, you have a year to make up your mind. Why not consider Carnegie Mellon? I hear they are fairly transfer friendly, and they are located in PA. I don’t know the process for applying to them, however.
TRY TO DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR TIME DURING YOUR GAP YEAR, BY THE WAY! GET A JOB, START LEARNING HOW TO CODE, GET AN INTERNSHIP, ETC. IT’S VERY IMPORTANT!