• Benefits
• Jobs
• Find it A-Z

MIT Employee Benefits

Eligibility

You are eligible for health plan coverage if you are paid by MIT, are appointed to work at MIT for at least three months (a postdoctoral fellow must have a fellowship appointment of at least nine months), and work at least 50% of the normal full-time work schedule. MORE

Next steps

1. Compare health plan options.
2. Review health plan rates.
3. Enroll in or make a change to your existing plan.
4. Review Medicare benefits.

Details

Find the plan that works for you

• Compare health plan options.
• Health Plan Rate Chart
• Health Plan Comparison Chart (PDF)

How can I switch health plans?

You can enroll in or change health plans right on the Employee Self Service (ESS) site.

ID cards

MIT Traditional Health Plan members will use the same ID card for both their healthcare services and pharmacy benefits. Only new members to the plan will receive a new ID card.

MIT Choice members will use two cards: one for healthcare services (from Blue Cross Blue Shield) and one from Express Scripts for pharmacy benefits. Everyone in this plan will receive a new ID card for healthcare services; only individuals who were in either MIT Traditional or Flexible Plans and are now going to be in MIT Choice will receive a new Express Scripts card.

Participants who use providers out of the network will have two cards: one for healthcare services (from HMO Blue New England) and one from Express Scripts for pharmacy benefits.

Remember, you need to present your new health plan ID card the first time you visit any health care provider.

Who can use MIT Medical?
All beneifts-eligible faculty and staff are eligible to use certain clinical services at MIT Medical, including urgent care, eye, radiology, and laboratory services. If you are enrolled in an MIT-sponsored health insurance plan, you'll be charged a $10 copayment for most services at MIT Medical. If you aren't enrolled in an MIT-sponsored plan, your benefits are determined by your individual coverage, and you may be billed for any copayments, co-insurance, or non-covered services.

Tiers of coverage

When you select one of the health plans offered through MIT, you must also choose who will be covered by your plan.

• Choose Individual if you only need to cover yourself.
• Choose Employee + Spouse to cover yourself and your spouse or domestic partner.
• Choose Employee + Child(ren) to cover yourself and your child(ren) if you are a single parent or your spouse/domestic partner is covered under another plan.
• Choose Family to cover yourself, your spouse/domestic partner, and your child(ren).

Who is eligible

• you have been appointed—and are currently employed—to work at MIT for at least three months
• you work at least 50% of the normal full-time work schedule
• you are paid by MIT
• you meet the criteria above and have a visiting appointment of at least 3 months
• you have a postdoctoral fellowship appointment of at least nine months and you want to continue your existing MIT health plan coverage

Who is NOT eligible

• contractor
• affiliate
• teaching or research assistant
• honorary lecturer
• summer appointment
• international visiting student
• member of the armed services assigned to MIT
• family member who is not employed by MIT
• work-study student
• paid by MITemps

Members of collective bargaining units

All the plan provisions are subject to the terms of your collective bargaining agreement.

Enroll in health plan coverage

Sign up when you begin work at MIT. Use Employee Self Service (ESS) to enroll in your health plan coverage within 31 days of your date of hire or appointment—or within 31 days of the date you receive your official Welcome Letter, whichever is later. When enrolling a spouse or partner or dependent(s) in health plan coverage, you must provide appropriate documentation (e.g., a marriage license or birth certificate) to the Benefits Office.

When you make your benefit elections as a new employee, you also have the opportunity to enroll eligible dependents in MIT’s health plan. You will need to provide proof of eligibility when you add dependents to your benefits coverage. This process is simple and straightforward. Shortly after you enroll a dependent in your benefits, you will receive a letter at your home address from the Benefits Office.  This letter will ask you to submit specific documents demonstrating that your newly enrolled dependent are eligible to receive benefits coverage under MIT’s health plan and will explain how to do so. The types of acceptable documents vary depending on your relationship to your dependent. A list of examples of required documentation is available here.

Sign up during Open Enrollment. If you do not return your enrollment form within this 31-day period, you must wait until the next annual Open Enrollment period, which takes place in the fall. Your coverage will take effect on January 1st of the following year.

Enroll as a result of a life event. If you experience a change in your life that has an impact on your benefits, you can enroll outside the Open Enrollment period. Learn more.

Choosing a PCP

All employees and their dependents must choose a primary care provider (PCP) when they enroll in the MIT Traditional or MIT Choice plans. Your PCP manages all aspects of your health care and is your key resource when you have questions about your health. Learn how to choose or change your PCP.

Change your health plan coverage

To cancel or make a change to your MIT Health Plan coverage, use Employee Self Service (ESS) during the annual Open Enrollment period.

If you experience a change in your life—marriage, partner's job loss, disability, new baby, change in Medicaid status or insurance coverage—you can make changes to your health care benefits outside the Open Enrollment period.

When you make a change because of a qualifying life event

• your change must be consistent with your life event (such as adding coverage for a new spouse/domestic partner)
• your change will be effective on the date of the qualifying event
• you must return the Health/Dental/Vision Plan Change Form (PDF) to the MIT Benefits Office within 31 days of the event—or within 60 days of change in Medicaid status
• you must provide appropriate documentation (e.g., a marriage license or birth certificate)

Find out which life events qualify you to make changes to your benefits—and the time frame for making those changes.

Why the period for making changes is limited

Most of the benefits plans offered through MIT are paid with pre-tax dollars. In exchange for this tax advantage, you are prohibited from enrolling in, canceling, or making changes to those plans outside the annual Open Enrollment period, unless you experience a qualifying change in your work or family life.