Dental Benefits
MIT provides a dental plan that covers preventive, basic, and major dental services. The plan is offered through Delta Dental.
Who Is Eligible
You are generally eligible for dental coverage if you (1) work at least 50% of the normal full-time schedule in your department, laboratory or center; (2) are appointed to work at MIT for 9 months or more ; and (3) are paid by MIT. You are also eligible if you meet the above criteria and you have a visiting appointment or are a student in a cooperative education program working at MIT.
The following are not eligible: consultants, contractors, fellows, affiliates, teaching or research assistants, honorary lecturers, post-doctoral trainees, people paid by voucher and members of the armed services assigned to MIT.
If you are a member of a collective bargaining unit, all the provisions of the Dental Plan are subject to the terms of your collective bargaining agreement.
Enrolling
You may enroll in the dental plan within 31 days of your date of hire or appointment, or within 31 days of when you first receive your Orientation Package, whichever is later. When you enroll, your coverage is effective as of your date of hire or appointment. The Benefits Office must receive your enrollment form within this 31 day period or you will generally need to wait until the next annual open enrollment period. Open enrollment for most benefits is held each fall.
In some cases, certain pre-existing conditions may limit your coverage. See "Your MIT Dental Plan" summary plan description for further information.
Choosing Who Is Covered
When you enroll, you indicate who will be covered under the plan:
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Individual Coverage |
you
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Family Coverage |
you and your spouse or your same sex spousal equivalent, and your dependents who are full time students under age 23.
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Coverage
Your dental plan pays all or part of the expenses for necessary dental services as long as your dentist participates in the Delta Dental Plan:
- Diagnostic and preventive services—to detect or prevent tooth decay or other oral diseases. These types of services are usually received during a routine dental checkup.
- Basic restorative—to restore or remove diseased or damaged teeth, treat oral diseases, and repair dentures, bridges, crowns, inlays, and onlays.
- Prosthodontic and major restorative services—to install dentures, bridges, crowns, inlays, and onlays, to replace missing teeth, or to restore severely damaged or diseased teeth. Services requiring the use of gold are also included.
Coverage for orthodontics is not included.
Amount Covered
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Category |
Deductible |
Plan Pays |
Maximum Per Person |
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Diagnostic/Preventive |
None |
100% of usual, customary, and reasonable charges |
$1,500 per person each year (you are responsible for expenses in excess of this annual maximum benefit amount) |
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Basic Restorative |
$50 per person each year |
70% of usual, customary, and reasonable charges |
Prosthodontic /
Major Restorative |
50% of usual, customary, and reasonable charges | |
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Participating and Nonparticipating Dentists
Your costs for the plan may be less when you visit a dentist who participates in the Delta Dental Plan. Participating dentists have agreed to accept Delta Dental''s allowance for services and treatment and provide an additional 5% discount.
If you go to a nonparticipating dentist, the plan generally pays 80% of the covered charges for services and treatment. In addition, to receive the 5% discount, you need to inform your nonparticipating dentist that you are a Delta Dental Plan member. (Be sure to show your dentist the identification card you will receive after you enroll in dental coverage.)
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Cost
You and MIT share in the cost of your dental benefit. Your share will be paid with before-tax dollars that are deducted from your pay each pay period. The cost depends on whether you choose individual or family coverage. For details on rates, please see the Benefit Choices Rate Sheet available in the Benefits Office.
If You Want to Make Changes
In exchange for allowing you to pay your premium with before-tax dollars, Internal Revenue Code regulations do not allow you to cancel or change your dental coverage outside of the open enrollment period unless you have a allowable change in family or employment status. Your benefit change must be on account of and consistent with your family or employment status change. A list of examples of allowable status changes is available in the Benefits Office.
If you do have an allowable change in family or employment status, you must contact the Benefits Office within 31 days to make any corresponding benefit changes. Your change will be effective on the date of the allowable event.
If you elect dental coverage and later cancel, you will not be allowed to reapply for coverage until the open enrollment period following a 12-month waiting period that starts on the cancellation date.
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