Basic Life Insurance

MIT provides the Basic Life Insurance Plan to all eligible employees with coverage up to $50,000. Enrollment is automatic, and MIT pays the full cost of Basic Life Insurance.

In the event of your death, the MIT Basic Life Insurance policy pays the full amount of your coverage to your designated beneficiary in a single payment. Your beneficiary may be eligible to receive payments on an alternative schedule by contacting MetLifeĀ® at (800) 638-6420.

Eligibility

You are eligible for Basic Life Insurance if you are paid by MIT, are appointed to work at MIT for at least three months, and work at least 50% of the normal full-time work schedule.

Who is not eligible

  • visitor
  • contractor
  • affiliate
  • teaching or research assistant
  • honorary lecturer
  • summer appointment
  • non-MIT student program worker
  • international visiting student
  • post-doctoral fellow
  • paid by MITemps
  • student in a work-study program
  • family member who is not employed by MIT
  • member of the armed services assigned to MIT

Members of collective bargaining units

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

Reductions in Coverage As You Age

The amount of coverage provided by the MIT Basic Life Insurance policy decreases every five years after you reach age 65. There are no further decreases after you reach age 95. See Retiree Life Insurance for details on coverage after you retire from MIT.

Age as of July 1 following your birthday Amount of your coverage
at least 65 but less than 70 $33,000
at least 70 but less than 75 $22,000
at least 75 but less than 80 $17,000
at least 80 but less than 85 $13,000
at least 85 but less than 90 $10,000
at least 90 but less than 95 $8,000
95 or older $6,000

Related Forms & Resources

Column headers with buttons are sortable.
All column headers are sortable.
Name Resource Type File Type

Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation Form

Forms PDF

Optional Life Insurance Enrollment/Change Form

Forms PDF

2025 MIT Benefits Brochure

Publications PDF

Grief Counseling

Publications PDF

Summary Plan Description for MIT Health and Welfare Plans

Publications PDF

Will Preparation Service

Publications PDF

Retirement Sense: Making Informed Decisions

Are you thinking about retirement? To have a fulfilling and secure retirement, you need to plan now. These webinars will help you understand how your current lifestyle, retirement dreams, savings, and investment decisions influence a successful retirement.