Health Insurance

Under Massachusetts law, all students are required to be covered by comprehensive medical insurance. 

Access to MIT Medical is included with tuition payment – all Joint Program students are covered by the Student Medical Plan (SMP) however, extended insurance is required to cover services such as hospitalization.

Extended plans can be purchased through:

• MIT (All students are automatically enrolled in the Student Extended Insurance Plan and must waive coverage each year by the deadline if not needed) – The cost for the student is paid by MIT, WHOI Academic Programs (APO) or an external fellowship.  Students must pay for any family members enrolled.  For information regarding cost and coverage, click here.

• WHOI (Students must waive MIT insurance each year if they elect this plan.) – APO pays employer share of the cost, and the student is responsible for the employee share.  For more information regarding cost and coverage, click here.

• Other sources such as partner’s plan, parent’s plan, Navy, etc.  (Students on other plans must waive MIT insurance each year.)

Waiving MIT Insurance Coverage

• Coverage can be waived for the entire year (September-August) or by term (Fall: September-January or Spring: February-August).

• Coverage must be waived by the deadlines (September 15 for the fall term or entire year; February 15 for the spring term).

• For waiver FAQs, click here.

Health Reimbursement Account

It is not reasonable to expect WHOI-based students* who are ill or injured to travel to MIT Medical to receive urgent or emergency care.  WHOI-based students covered by MIT extended insurance who are unable to seek care at MIT Medical for conditions requiring prompt, but not immediate, attention (sprains, earache, high fever, etc.) are eligible to make up to eight office visits per year at a physician’s office within the Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO network.  To find in-network hospitals or providers, click here.

The HRA is also available for WHOI-based students with chronic illnesses who are reequired to make frequent doctor visits.

How it works:

• For emergency care (e.g. heart attack, stroke or poisoning), go to an in-network hospital emergency room - $100 copay if not admitted to the hospital
• For urgent or chronic care, see an in-network doctor or clinic - $25 copay
• You should receive an Explanation of Benefits from BCBS.  They may charge you a copay and 20% co-insurance.
• If there is a cost incurred that would not have been incurred if you had gone to MIT Medical, submit a completed Reimbursement Claim Form (under Related Files) with the original medical bill to Benefit Strategies.  If approved, you will receive reimbursement for your copay and co-insurance up to $1,000 per year.  Students who exceed the $1,000 maximum may request an exception to the limit.

* Check with the WHOI Registrar or JP Administrator at MIT to determine if you are considered to be a WHOI-based student.

 

Upper Cape Urgent Care Providers

These medical care providers are not endorsed by WHOI or MIT in any way.  Please check with any of these providers before heading there to make sure it's the most appropriate place for your situation.  Locations and hours of operation change occasionally.

Falmouth Hospital - 24 hour emergency care
100 Ter Heun Drive, Falmouth
508/548-5300

Rogers Outpatient Center - Monday-Friday, 9am-11am, and 1pm-3pm
Mashpee Health Center
Five Industrial Drive, Ste. 100, Mashpee
508/539-6208

Stoneman Health Center - Monday-Friday, 9am-7pm; Saturday and Sunday 8am-2pm
Two Jan Sebastian Way
Sandwich
508/888-6440