Find out about your health care coverage when you are traveling within the United States or abroad.
Note: The MIT Traditional and Choice health care plans have been discontinued. Updated information on out of area coverage under the current MIT plans will be posted here when available.
Enhanced Travel Benefits
Starting January 1, 2023, the MIT health plans will cover transportation (automobile, airplane, train, or bus) and lodging expenses up to an annual benefit maximum of $5,000 for covered services. This coverage is provided when access to covered services is not available within 100 miles of the member's residence at the time the service(s) is needed, and the member must travel to an in-network provider for the covered services.
Out of Area Coverage and Emergencies
Members of all three employee health plans—the MIT Traditional Health Plan, the MIT Choice Plan, and the MIT High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)—are covered for medical emergencies anywhere in the world. MIT Choice Plan members may also use their “out-of-network” option to access non-urgent care outside of the New England area. HDHP members are covered throughout the PPO nationwide Blue Cross Blue Shield network.
Each MIT employee health plan covers your care in full—less your normal copay or deductible and coinsurance—if you have a medical emergency or need urgent medical care anywhere in the world. But for Blue Cross Blue Shield to authorize coverage, you must provide notification within 48 hours. Call Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) at 1-800-882-1093.
Follow-up visits are covered on the MIT Choice and High Deductible Health Plans. Out of network deductible and co-insurance will apply. Once authorized, the MIT Traditional Health Plan covers one follow-up visit, if needed.
Non-urgent care
- MIT Traditional Plan members have no coverage for non-urgent care outside of the Plan’s service area (the state of Massachusetts).
- MIT Choice Plan members may use their "out-of-network" benefit to receive care without a referral anywhere in the United States, subject to deductible and 25 percent coinsurance. In other words, you will pay for these services in full until you have satisfied your plan’s annual deductible ($500 per member or $1,000 per family). After that, you’ll pay 25 percent of the Blue Cross “allowed amount” for each visit.
Once you’ve met your annual deductible, and as long as you use Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) providers, the 25 percent coinsurance will be your only out-of-pocket cost for each visit. However, if you receive care from a provider who does not participate with his or her local BCBS network, that provider may also choose to bill you for the difference between his or her usual fee and the Blue Cross allowed amount—a practice referred to as “balance billing.” This balance-billed amount is in addition to the 25 percent coinsurance and does not count toward Blue Cross’s calculation of your annual out-of-pocket costs. - MIT High Deductible Health Plan members are covered throughout the PPO nationwide Blue Cross Blue Shield network. No referrals are necessary. You will pay for services in full until you meet your annual deductible. After that, you’ll pay 10 percent coinsurance for services not provided at MIT Health.
Finding Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) providers
- In this country: Members of all three plans can find a BCBS-participating healthcare provider in the United States by going to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Doctor and Hospital Finder. Or just call 1-800-882-1093.
- Outside of the country: To find a BCBS-participating provider outside of the U.S., go to Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core, and log in by entering the first three letters of the identification code on your insurance card.
International travel
Are you traveling overseas? If you are enrolled in the MIT Traditional, MIT Choice, Blue Care Elect PPO, Medex, or Managed Blue for Seniors plans, the information below will help you understand your health care coverage while traveling and what to do in an emergency.
Health care coverage while traveling internationally
Be sure to print out the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core brochure (below) to take along with you. In the event you require medical services while traveling overseas and need to pay out-of-pocket for these services, you can print out the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core International Claim Form (below) and submit it for reimbursement directly to BCBS Global Core, along with your original, itemized bill(s) and paid receipts(s). Please be sure to keep copies of what you submit to BCBS Global Core for your records. You should receive your reimbursement, less any co-payment(s), co-insurance, or deductible amounts that you are responsible to pay, within 30 calendar days.
Please note that the MIT Traditional plan offers emergency care only while traveling overseas.
Medex Plan (in conjunction with Medicare)
If you are traveling outside the United States, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands and you need emergency medical care (or urgent care), you can get help to find a health care provider. Call 1-800-810-BLUE (or call collect at 1-804-673-1177). There are no providers that have a payment agreement with Blue Cross and Blue Shield, but the BCBS Global Core Service Center can help you to access a health care provider. Emergency medical evacuation is not covered on the Medex Plan.
In the event you require medical services while traveling overseas and need to pay out-of-pocket for these services, you can print out the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core International Claim Form (below) and submit it for reimbursement directly to BCBS Global Core, along with your original, itemized bill(s) and paid receipts(s). Please be sure to keep copies of what you submit for your records. You should receive your reimbursement, less any co-payment(s), co-insurance, or deductible amounts that you are responsible to pay, within 30 calendar days.
Managed Blue for Seniors Supplemental Plan (in conjunction with Medicare)
The Plan provides worldwide emergency coverage. This means that the Plan covers emergency medical services whether you are in or out of the Managed Blue for Seniors service area. These emergency medical services may include inpatient or outpatient services by providers qualified to furnish emergency medical care and that are needed to evaluate or stabilize your emergency medical condition. Emergency medical evacuation is not covered on the Managed Blue for Seniors Plan.
It is important to notify your Primary Care Provider (PCP) of any emergency medical condition. This is so that your PCP (or the Plan) can be involved in the coordination of your health care and so that follow-up care can be arranged, if needed. You, the facility or someone on your behalf must call your PCP within 48 hours of receiving emergency medical care, including emergency room visits or emergency admissions.
If you receive urgent care for a medical condition while you are out of the service area, you must call your PCP or the Plan’s customer service office at the toll-free telephone number shown on your Managed Blue for Seniors identification card within 48 hours of receiving the care. The Plan will provide coverage for one Medicare-approved visit (if you need it) without a referral from your PCP while you are still outside the service area.
In the event you require medical services while traveling overseas and need to pay out-of-pocket for these services, you can print out the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core International Claim Form (below) and submit it for reimbursement directly to BCBS Global Core, along with your original, itemized bill(s) and paid receipts(s). Please be sure to keep copies of what you submit for your records. You should receive your reimbursement, less any co-payment(s), co-insurance, or deductible amounts that you are responsible to pay, within 30 calendar days.
Tufts Medicare Preferred or Tufts Medicare Complement Plans
If you are enrolled in the Tufts Medicare Preferred or Tufts Medicare Complement plans, these plans offer emergency care only while traveling overseas. In the event you require emergency medical services while traveling overseas and need to pay out-of-pocket for these services, you can print out the Tufts Medicare Preferred or Tufts Medicare Complement Member Reimbursement Form (below) and submit it for reimbursement directly to Tufts Health Plan, along with your original, itemized bills(s) and paid receipt(s). For more information regarding overseas coverage, call the member services number on the back of your ID card.
Emergency medical and security evacuation
MIT has contracted with the travel assistance company International SOS to provide emergency medical and security evacuation services to faculty, staff and students who are traveling abroad on MIT business. International SOS has 24-hour alarm centers, international clinics and remote-site medical facilities covering five continents.
Learn more at MIT's International SOS Program Portal.
More help with international travel
MIT's Global Support Resources (GSR) site offers a range of resources to help travelers prepare for their trip and stay healthy while abroad.
