About Eligibility
Who is eligible
MIT's benefits plans are immediately available to all employees who are paid by MIT, who work 50% or more of the normal full-time work schedule and who have an eligible appointment. Use the charts below to confirm eligibility and enrollment requirements for specific plans.
Who is not eligible
- contractor
- affiliate
- teaching or research assistant
- honorary lecturer
- summer appointment
- non-MIT student program worker
- international visiting student
- member of the armed services assigned to MIT
- family member not employed by MIT
- work-study student
- paid by MITemps
Visitors: If you are categorized as a visitor, you are eligible to enroll in an MIT health, dental, vision or flexible spending plan. Visitors are not eligible for life insurance, retirement plans, long-term care, long-term disability, travel accident insurance, tuition assistance, children's scholarship plan, educational loan plan, home and auto insurance discounts, backup childcare/adultcare, or the childcare scholarship program.
If you do not meet the eligibility requirements listed above, you might be eligible for the MIT Affiliate Health Plan.
Collective Bargaining Units: All plan provisions are subject to the terms of your collective bargaining agreement.
Benefits Eligibility Charts for MIT Employees
Automatic enrollment
| Plan | Length of Appointment | Enrollment Schedule for Newly Hired and Newly Eligible Employees | Enrollment Schedule for Eligible Existing Employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Life Insurance | Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Automatic on date of hire. | Automatic on date of hire. |
| Disability | Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Automatic on date of hire. | Automatic on date of hire. |
| Accident Insurance | Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Automatic on date of hire. | Automatic on date of hire. |
| MIT Basic Retirement Plan |
If you are an eligible employee scheduled to work 50% or more of a regular full-time work schedule, you will be eligible to participate on the first day of the month coinciding with or following the first anniversary of your hire date. Special rules apply if you are scheduled to work less than 50%. For example, if you were hired on July 16, 2023 and worked 50% or more of a regular full-time work schedule, you would begin participating in the plan on August 1, 2024. If you were hired on October 1, 2023 and worked 50% or more of a regular full-time work schedule, you would begin participating in the plan on October 1, 2024. |
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Voluntary enrollment
| Plan | Length of Appointment | Enrollment Schedule for Newly Hired and Newly Eligible Employees | Enrollment Schedule for Eligible Existing Employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health | Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Enroll within 31 days of your date of hire or within 31 days of receipt of your "Welcome Letter," whichever is later. | Enroll or make changes only during Open Enrollment unless you have an allowable change in family or employment status. |
| Dental | Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Enroll within 31 days of your date of hire or within 31 days of receipt of your "Welcome Letter," whichever is later. | Enroll or make changes only during Open Enrollment unless you have an allowable change in family or employment status. |
| Vision | Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Enroll within 31 days of your date of hire or within 31 days of receipt of your "Welcome Letter," whichever is later. | Enroll or make changes only during Open Enrollment unless you have an allowable change in family or employment status. |
| Flexible Spending Accounts
Health / Dependent Care |
Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Enroll within 31 days of your date of hire or within 31 days of receipt of your "Welcome Letter," whichever is later. | Enroll or make changes only during Open Enrollment unless you have an allowable change in family or employment status. |
| MIT Supplemental 401(k) | Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Enroll within 31 days of your date of hire or within 31 days of receipt of your "Welcome Letter," whichever is later. | Enroll or make changes any time during your employment. |
| Supplemental Life Insurance | Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Enroll within 31 days of your date of hire or within 31 days of receipt of your "Welcome Letter," whichever is later. Coverage effective date is the 1st of the month after your date of hire. | Enroll or make changes any time during your employment (may have to provide evidence of good health). |
| Spouse and Dependent Life Insurance | Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Enroll within 31 days of your date of hire or within 31 days of receipt of your "Welcome Letter," whichever is later. Coverage effective date is the 1st of the month after your date of hire. | Enroll or make changes only during Open Enrollment unless you have an allowable change in family or employment status. |
| Long-Term Care Insurance | Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Enroll directly with Genworth within 31 days of your date of hire or within 31 days of receipt of your "Welcome Letter," whichever is later. | Enroll or make changes directly with Genworth any time during your employment (may have to provide evidence of good health). |
| Tuition Assistance | Nine months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Enroll any time during your employment. | Enroll any time during your employment. |
| Children's College Scholarship | Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Enroll any time during your employment. Your benefit level depends upon hire date and position. | Enroll any time during your employment. Your benefit level depends upon hire date and position. |
| Educational Loan | 1 year or longer of MIT service required | Enroll any time after your first full year of employment. Tenured faculty may apply any time during their employment. | Enroll any time after your first full year of employment. Tenured faculty may apply any time during their employment. |
| Identity Theft Protection | Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Starting Feb. 14, 2022, enroll within 31 days of your date of hire or within 31 days of receipt of your "Welcome Letter," whichever is later. | Enroll or make changes only during Open Enrollment unless you have an allowable change in family or employment status. |
| Legal Insurance | Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Starting Feb. 14, 2022, enroll within 31 days of your date of hire or within 31 days of receipt of your "Welcome Letter," whichever is later. | Enroll or make changes only during Open Enrollment unless you have an allowable change in family or employment status. |
| Pet Health Insurance | Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Starting February 14, 2022, you may enroll in pet insurance directly with the vendors at any time during your employment. | Enroll in pet insurance directly with the vendors at any time during your employment. |
| Adoption Assistance | Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Apply when you adopt a child under the age of 18. | Apply when you adopt a child under the age of 18. |
| Backup Child/Adult Care (Care.com) | Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Pre-register at any time | Pre-register at any time |
| Childcare Scholarship Program | Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work | Apply after child's family accepts a space in a Technology Children's Center location. Applications are accepted at any time during child's enrollment. | Apply after child's family accepts a space in a Technology Children's Center location. Applications are accepted at any time during child's enrollment. |
Eligibility During Unpaid Leaves
Need to request a leave? See the Unpaid Leave Request form.
Your benefits will change according to the length of your leave. The chart below summarizes these changes.
If you continue coverage during your leave and your payments are delinquent more than 30 days, your coverage will be cancelled, and you will be offered coverage under the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).
| Plan | Leave of Less Than Three Months | Leave of Three Months or Greater |
|---|---|---|
| Health | You must continue your coverage. Contributions will be deducted upon your return to pay status. | You may continue or cancel your coverage. If you continue coverage and do not return the Continuing Benefits Form, you will be billed automatically. If you cancel coverage, it will not be reinstated automatically. You have 31 days following your return to MIT to re-enroll. |
| Dental | You must continue your coverage. Contributions will be deducted upon your return to pay status. | You may continue or cancel your coverage. If you continue coverage and do not return the Continuing Benefits Form, you will be billed automatically. If you cancel coverage, it will not be reinstated automatically. You have 31 days following your return to MIT to re-enroll. |
| Supplemental Life Insurance | You must continue your coverage. Contributions will be deducted upon your return to pay status. | You may continue or cancel your coverage. If you continue coverage, you will be billed automatically. If you cancel coverage and wish to reapply when you return to MIT, you must submit Evidence of Insurability satisfactory to the insurance company. Contact the MIT Benefits when you return for forms and details. |
| Flexible Spending Accounts Health / Dependent Care | Contributions do not continue. Upon return your remaining deductions are evenly divided over the pay periods remaining in the year. | Contributions do not continue. |
| Tuition Assistance | You will be reimbursed for eligible courses only when you return to work at MIT. | You will be reimbursed for eligible courses only when you return to work at MIT. |
| Adoption Assistance | You must be on an approved unpaid leave at the time expenses are paid and the adoption is finalized. | You must be on an approved unpaid leave at the time expenses are paid and the adoption is finalized. |
| Backup Child/Adult Care (Care.com) | You will continue to be eligible during an approved unpaid leave of absence. | You will continue to be eligible during an approved unpaid leave of absence. |
| Childcare Scholarship Program | You will continue to be eligible during an approved unpaid leave of absence. | You will continue to be eligible during an approved unpaid leave of absence. |
Eligibility for Postdoctoral Fellows
Some MIT benefits plans are available to postdoctoral fellows who have fellowship appointments of three consecutive months or longer.
All Postdoctoral Fellows
All postdoctoral fellows are eligible for the following plans.
| Plan | Length of Appointment | Enrollment Schedule | Enrollment Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) | 3 consecutive months or longer | Enroll within 31 days of the start of your fellowship. | Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) |
| Dental | 3 consecutive months or longer | Enroll within 31 days of the start of your fellowship. | Postdoctoral Fellow Dental & Vision Enrollment/Change Form |
| Vision | 3 consecutive months or longer | Enroll within 31 days of the start of your fellowship. | Postdoctoral Fellow Dental & Vision Enrollment/Change Form |
| Backup Child/Adult Care (Care.com) | 3 consecutive months or longer | Pre-register at any time | Backup Child and Adult Care Pre-Registration Form |
| Childcare Scholarship Program | 3 consecutive months or longer | After child is enrolled in one of the Technology Children's Centers (TCC) | Request information from TCC Director. |
Some Postdoctoral Fellows
Postdoctoral fellows who were eligible and participating in an MIT group plan before their fellowship began are eligible to continue coverage under the following plans.
| Plan | Length of Appointment | Enrollment Schedule | Enrollment Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health | 3 consecutive months or longer | Enroll within 31 days of the start of your fellowship to continue your coverage. | Notice of Continuation of Health/Dental/Vision Enrollment |
| Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) | 3 consecutive months or longer | Enroll within 31 days of the start of your fellowship to continue your coverage. | Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) |
| Dental | 3 consecutive months or longer | Enroll within 31 days of the start of your fellowship to continue your coverage. | Notice of Continuation of Health/Dental/Vision Enrollment |
| Vision | 3 consecutive months or longer | Enroll within 31 days of the start of your fellowship to continue your coverage. | Notice of Continuation of Health/Dental/Vision Enrollment |
| COBRA | Not applicable | Enroll within 60 days of notification by MIT of loss of coverage or date you lose coverage, whichever is later. | Election Form mailed by MIT COBRA Plan administrator |
What Else You Should Know
Have you had a change in a dependent's eligibility? Learn about MIT's policy regarding coverage for dependent children.
