FAQ: Primary Care at MIT Health's Lexington Care Center

Why should I choose an MIT Health PCP?

There are many benefits of getting your care at MIT Health’s Lexington Care Center: 

  • Convenience: Our patients constantly tell us how much they love the ease and convenience of getting their healthcare “right up the hill.” There’s no need to miss half a day of work for a medical appointment when your primary care provider is just a short walk away. 

  • Facility size: MIT Health’s Lexington Care Center is small enough to provide caring, individualized service, but you also have access to a wide array of specialty services — at MIT Health’s campus Care Center or throughout the Blue Cross Blue Shield network. 

  • Access to the top hospitals: MIT Health clinicians have close affiliations with world-class hospitals in the Boston area, but with an MIT-sponsored health insurance plan, you can choose to be treated in any hospital in the extensive BCBS network. 

  • Lower copayments, or none at all: If you’re covered by the BCBS PPO+ Plan, you’ll have no copayments for routine office visits at MIT Health in Lexington or Cambridge, compared with $15 copays at other in-network facilities. You’ll have a $10 copayment to go to Urgent Care or see a specialist at our campus Care Center, compared with $30 copays for other in-network urgent care centers or specialists. 

I don’t have a primary care provider (PCP) at MIT Health right now. How do I choose one?

If you’re currently covered by an MIT health insurance plan, you can choose your MIT Health in a few easy clicks. 

  • Search our providers to see a list of MIT Health PCPs who are accepting new patients; Lexington providers in that list will be clearly identified.  

  • Make an appointment At your first appointment, tell the Patient Service Representative who you’ve selected.  

Can I try MIT Health without making a commitment?

Yes. Either MIT employee health plan allows you to make an appointment at MIT Health with no obligation to select a primary care provider or continue getting your care here. 

What if I need lab tests?

You may have your blood drawn at our Lexington Care Center. We will send your sample to the laboratory at our campus Care Center for analysis. Results are typically available within 24–48 hours. You also have the option to get lab tests at our campus laboratory or elsewhere, though your costs will be lowest at in-network laboratory services. 

What happens if I need an X-ray?

For urgent x-rays, our Lexington Care Center sends patients to the Beth Israel Deaconess HealthCare facility — a five-minute drive from Lincoln Laboratory. For scheduled tests, such as mammography or ultrasound exams, you can go to at MIT Health’s Radiology Service at the campus Care Center in Cambridge. You can also choose to get your radiology tests elsewhere, though your costs will be lowest at in-network radiology providers. 

Can I get care at MIT Health in the evening or on weekends?

Yes. When you need care in the evening or on weekends, you can visit Urgent Care at MIT Health’s campus Care Center, open from 8 a.m.–8 p.m. M – F, and 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. In addition, medical advice is available 24/7. Just call 617-253-4481, and a triage nurse will call you back and can provide advice about what to do next.

During overnight hours, MIT Health clinicians are on call and will be contacted if the triage nurse has questions or concerns. 

Since MIT Health is part of MIT, do I need to worry about confidentiality?

No. Clinicians at MIT Health will not disclose information about your health or medical treatment to your supervisor, Human Resources, or anyone else.

Your health information is strictly protected by the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Massachusetts law, and MIT Health’s own privacy policy. This includes any information that could be used to identify you or that relates to your health condition, healthcare, or payment for healthcare.

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