Your Eligibility for MIT Benefits

Find out what benefits you are eligible for as a member of the MIT community. 

Eligibility Charts

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

Enrollment in the following plans is automatic.

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, 2019 and worked 50% or more of a regular full-time work schedule, you would begin participating in the plan on August 1, 2020. If you were hired on October 1, 2019 and worked 50% or more of a regular full-time work schedule, you would begin participating in the plan on October 1, 2020.

Voluntary Enrollment

Enrollment is voluntary in the following plans.

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.  For this new plan, a special enrollment window begins Feb. 14, 2022. After that, 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.  For this new plan, a special enrollment window begins Feb. 14, 2022. After that, 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. Starting February 14, 2022, you may 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.
Home & Auto Insurance Discount Three months or longer at 50% or more of full-time work Enroll directly with MetLife any time during your employment. Enroll or make changes directly with MetLife any time during your employment.
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.

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.