Dependent Life Insurance

The MIT Dependent Life Insurance Plan gives you the opportunity to purchase life insurance for your eligible dependents. 

This coverage is separate from your MIT Basic Life Insurance. Eligible dependents include:

  • a spouse or domestic partner (even if your spouse or domestic partner purchases dependent coverage for you under this same plan)
  • an unmarried biological or adopted child or stepchild from age 15 days to age 26 (whether or not the child is a student)

You cannot purchase life insurance for a child who is already covered by an MIT Dependent Life Insurance Plan purchased by your spouse or domestic partner.

In the event of the death of a dependent covered under this plan, the policy pays the full amount of the coverage in a single payment. You pay the full cost of MIT Dependent Life Insurance through deductions from your MIT pay each pay period.

Coverage Options

  • spouse or domestic partner — $50,000 or $100,000
  • dependent child — $10,000 ($100 from age 15 days to age six months)

Eligibility

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
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

Rates

The initial cost of your Dependent Spouse Life Insurance depends on your age when you enroll and the coverage option you choose.

2024 Dependent Life Insurance Rates (Spouse or Domestic Partner)
Your age as of July 1 Monthly cost per $1,000 of coverage
Under age 25 $0.031
25 to 29 $0.040
30 to 34 $0.055
35 to 39 $0.063
40 to 44 $0.079
45 to 49 $0.111
50 to 54 $0.182
55 to 59 $0.316
60 to 64 $0.523
65 to 69 $0.943
70 or older $1.522
Dependent Life Insurance Rate (Children)
Monthly cost per child is $1.09
The coverage amount per child is $10,000 age 6 months to age 26 ($100 from 15 days to age 6 months).

Enroll or change coverage

Sign up when you start work at MIT

As a new hire, you can enroll in Dependent Life Insurance coverage using Atlas. You may also complete and return the Dependent Life Insurance Enrollment/Change Form (below) to the MIT Benefits Office 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.

Sign up during Open Enrollment

If you do not return your enrollment form within the initial 31-day period, you must wait until the next annual Open Enrollment period, which takes place in the fall. When you enroll in coverage for your spouse or domestic partner after the initial 31-day period, your spouse or domestic partner must provide a Statement of Health (below) and/or acceptable medical examination results.

Evidence of good health

Evidence of good health is not required when you enroll in coverage for a dependent child. When you enroll in coverage for a spouse or domestic partner, your spouse or domestic partner must provide a Statement of Health (below) depending on the coverage option and when you enroll.

  • If you enroll within 31 days of hire/appointment or receipt of your Welcome Letter and your coverage amount is $50,000, the coverage is called a guaranteed issue, and your spouse or domestic partner does not have to provide evidence of good health. Coverage begins on the first day of the next month, depending on when you enroll online or return the Dependent Life Insurance Enrollment/Change Form (below) to the MIT Benefits Office.
  • If your coverage amount is $100,000, your spouse or domestic partner must provide a Statement of Health (below) to MetLife for the additional coverage amount. Coverage begins on the date the insurance provider approves your spouse's or domestic partner's coverage, but not earlier than the first day of the month described above.

Your enrolled spouse or domestic partner and eligible child(ren) must not be hospital confined or receiving or applying to receive disability benefits from any source when their coverage becomes effective.

Change your coverage

You may enroll in or increase the amount of your dependent life insurance coverage during the annual Open Enrollment period, which takes place in the fall, or within 31 days of experiencing a qualifying life event. The qualifying life event must be consistent with the requested coverage change (i.e. birth/adoption - enroll the new dependent; marriage/divorce - add new/change existing spouse coverage). You may be required to provide a Statement of Health (below) to enroll in or to increase coverage for your spouse or domestic partner. You may reduce or cancel coverage at any time.