Open Enrollment

Benefits Open Enrollment for the 2026 calendar year will run for three weeks, from October 14 to October 31, 2025 (no changes can be processed prior to October 14). Any changes or updates you make during the Open Enrollment period will become effective on January 1, 2026.

You can complete your Open Enrollment elections on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. To do so, download MIT Atlas on any device, or use the link provided here starting October 14.

Please carefully assess your benefit options and costs before making decisions for yourself and eligible family members. 

Health and Welfare Benefits for 2026

MIT continues to share the cost of health and dental plan premiums with employees. Each year ahead of Open Enrollment, we evaluate projected rate changes and update our plans accordingly.

Health plan premiums

For the 2026 calendar year, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) health plan premiums will increase by an average of 7%, which remains below the national medical cost trend of 8.5%. This increase reflects rising expenses in hospital care (inpatient and outpatient), new therapeutic drugs, and behavioral health services.

Changes to both the BCBS PPO+ Health Plan and the BCBS High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) will take effect in 2026, including increases to deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, and copays for office visits, inpatient hospital, and pharmacy, as described below.

BCBS PPO+ Health Plan

• Annual in-network deductibles will change from $150 to $175 (individual) and $300 to $350 (two-person & family)
• Primary care provider (PCP) visit copays, non-MIT Health, will change from $15 to $25 (behavioral health visits remain at $15)
• Specialist visit copays, non-MIT Health, will change from $30 to $40 (physical therapy visits remain at $30)
• Inpatient hospital copays will change from $50 to $150
• Out-of-pocket maximums will change from $2,500 to $2,875 (individual) and $5,000 to $5,750 (two-person & family)

BCBS High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)

• Annual deductibles will change from $1,650 to $1,700 (individual) and $3,300 to $3,400 (two-person & family). These are IRS-mandated changes.
• Out-of-pocket maximums will change from $3,000 to $3,500 (individual) and $6,000 to $7,000 (two-person & family)

Pharmacy copay changes

Dental plan and vision plan

Basic Dental Plan premiums will remain the same in 2026, while Comprehensive Dental Plan premiums will increase by 4.4%. The Vision Plan premiums will remain the same.

Note: The weekly costs for support/service staff for 2026 are calculated over 53 pay periods (vs. 52 pay periods in 2025), so weekly amounts for the Basic Dental Plan will decrease.

Flexible Spending Account maximums

• The 2026 Flexible Spending Account (FSA) maximums are $3,300 for the Health Care FSA and $5,000 for the Dependent Care FSA.
• If you wish to remain in a Health Care or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account for calendar year 2026, you must re-enroll in coverage.

Health Care Savings Account (HSA) maximum

The 2026 HSA maximum contributions are $4,400 for employee coverage and $8,750 for employee + spouse or domestic partner (if a tax dependent), employee + child(ren), or family coverage. Additional $1,000 if you are age 55 or older.

Plan Premiums for 2026

Other Programs

What Else You Should Know

If you are eligible to receive benefits, you may include your domestic partner in your health, dental, or vision plan coverage. Learn how MIT defines a domestic partner and how a domestic partnership affects your taxes.

Disclaimer

MIT expects to continue offering the employee benefits plans noted on this site, but it reserves the right to amend, cancel, or terminate the plans at any time. If there is a discrepancy between this site and the official Plan Document(s), the official Plan Document(s) will govern.

Note: If your employment with MIT is governed by a collective bargaining agreement, then the availability of these benefits and the extent of your participation in these plans will be governed by the terms of your collective bargaining agreement.