Guide for Parents of MIT Students

College is a time of transition and new independence. It’s a time when students begin to do more on their own, including accessing medical care. Nevertheless, parents continue to provide critical guidance and support. Often, you are the first person your child will call when he or she feels homesick or has a health problem. At MIT Medical, we want to work with you to facilitate your child’s health and happiness.

We encourage you to call MIT Medical and talk with us about your concerns. Although we cannot share medical information without your child’s consent, we can suggest approaches for communicating with your child about health-related topics and point you to additional resources. To discuss concerns about your child’s health, contact Kristine Ruzycki, A.P.R.N., B.C., Director of Student Health Services at 617-258-7068 or ruzy@med.mit.edu, or Maryanne Kirkbride, M.S./M.B.A., R.N., Clinical Director of Campus Life at 617-253-5240 or kirk@med.mit.edu.

We’ve also created this guide to make it easy for you to find and connect with the MIT Medical resources and information you’re likely to need as a parent of an MIT student.

Student Health Insurance: What you should know

MIT offers two levels of health insurance coverage: the MIT Student Medical Plan, which provides students with access to care and services at MIT Medical as part of their tuition, and the MIT Student Extended Insurance Plan, which meets state requirements for comprehensive health insurance.

All full-time students are automatically enrolled in the MIT Student Medical Plan. The plan covers access to care and services at MIT Medical, including unlimited primary care, 24-hour urgent care, mental health care, gynecological visits and related lab tests, laboratory and other diagnostic testing, substance abuse support, and access to the MIT Pharmacy. Most services are covered in full, and the cost of the plan is included in tuition.

The MIT Student Extended Insurance Plan provides comprehensive health insurance coverage designed to coordinate with the services provided through the MIT Student Medical Plan. With the Extended Plan, students also receive access to inpatient hospitalization, inpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment, surgical procedures, emergency room services, and other benefits, such as annual eye exams and prescription drugs.

Students are automatically enrolled in and billed for the Extended Plan unless they submit a waiver request and show proof of other insurance coverage that meets Massachusetts requirements. Please note that your child is the only one who can complete the waiver; you cannot do it for him or her. Waiver deadlines are September 15 for the fall semester and February 15 for the spring semester.

Before deciding to waive the MIT Student Extended Insurance Plan, make sure you compare the benefits to those in your existing plan, and find out how your current insurance works away from home. If you have questions about Massachusetts insurance requirements or need help deciding what insurance is right for your child, you can contact the MIT Health Plans Office at 617-253-1322 or stuplan@med.mit.edu. Answers to your questions about insurance will depend on your unique situation, so it is best to speak directly with a member of the Health Plans staff.

Urgent and Emergency Care

There’s always somebody here for you or your child to call for urgent care. MIT Medical's Urgent Care phone line (617-253-4481) is staffed 24 hours a day, every day. The Urgent Care service also has walk-in hours every day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. If students aren't sure if their condition requires urgent care, they can call 617-253-4481 and speak to a triage specialist to learn what to do next.

In an emergency, students can dial 100 from any Cambridge campus phone or 617-253-1212 from any other phone. Depending on the situation, ambulance service will be provided to MIT Medical or a nearby acute-care hospital.

School/Life Balance

MIT is known for being a challenging academic institution. To help students lead more balanced lives, MIT Medical encourages them to take some personal time each day and offers a variety of tips, wellness classes, and resources through Community Wellness at MIT Medical and the Mental Health and Counseling Service. Services such as health consultations, counseling, referrals, fitness classes, and workshops are available to help students stay healthy and happy.

Confidential and Inclusive

If your child wants you to be involved in his or her medical care for a particular illness or concern, he or she simply needs to notify the care provider. All MIT Medical services, including appointments, tests, diagnoses, and medications, are kept confidential. Your child’s medical information is stored centrally and securely and cannot be released to you without his or her permission.

Your child’s medical records are private, but that doesn’t mean we’re not interested in helping you with your concerns. Please feel free to contact Kristine Ruzycki, A.P.R.N., B.C., Director of Student Health Services at 617-258-7068 or ruzy@med.mit.edu, or Maryanne Kirkbride, M.S./M.B.A., R.N., Clinical Director of Campus Life at 617-253-5240 or kirk@med.mit.edu, to discuss any concerns you may have about your child’s health and well-being.

For more information, see What your student needs to know about accessing care at MIT Medical.

Resources

Community Wellness at MIT Medical
E23-205
617-253-1316
wellness@med.mit.edu
M–F, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Health Plans Office
E23-308
617-253-1322
stuplan@med.mit.edu
M–F, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Director of Student Health Services
Kristine Ruzycki, A.P.R.N., B.C.
617-258-7068
ruzy@med.mit.edu

Clinical Director for Campus Life
Maryanne Kirkbride, M.S./M.B.A., R.N.
617-253-5240
kirk@med.mit.edu

MIT Parents Association
617-253-8183
mykidis@mit.edu
http://parents.mit.edu

MIT's Young Adult Program
http://hrweb.mit.edu/worklife/youngadult/contact.html