FAQ: Dental
Who is eligible to use the MIT Dental Service?
If you are 16 years of age or older and eligible to use MIT Medical, you are eligible to use the Dental Service. That includes current MIT students, affiliates, and employees; Draper and Whitehead employees; their spouses (including eligible same-sex spousal equivalents) and dependent children 16 years of age or older; and members of the MIT Health Plan.
How can I find out how much my dental care will cost?
After your examination and a discussion of treatment options, your dentist will give you a copy of your initial treatment plan, which will include estimated costs. These costs are estimates only, because your treatment plan may need to change if the dentist finds additional or different problems after actually starting treatment.
If you ask, the billing staff will give you an estimate that includes your out-of-pocket expense. They will also send a pre-estimate to Delta Dental. But you are responsible for understanding what your insurance covers and for paying any balances not paid by the insurance company.
Are any dental services covered by my health insurance?
Very few. Health insurance plans usually do not cover routine dental care such as cleanings, X-rays, fillings, or crowns. However, check with your health insurance company directly to be certain. Routine dental care is not covered by the MIT Student and Affiliate Health Plans, the MIT Student and Affiliate Extended Insurance Plans, the MIT Affiliate Health Plan, or the MIT Traditional Health or MIT Choice Plans for employees. A few special procedures are covered by the employee plans, the MIT Student Extended Insurance Plan, and the MIT Affiliate Extended Insurance Plan. Please review your benefit description or contact Member Services for more information.
What should I do if I have an urgent dental problem or emergency after hours or on weekends?
Contact MIT Medical’s Urgent Care Service (617-253-4481) for evaluation and triage. Our general dentists are on call to provide advice to the Urgent Care Service after hours and on weekends, when the Dental Service is not open.
If you have a serious dental emergency (e.g., facial trauma, jaw fracture, avulsed tooth, uncontrolled bleeding, or airway compromise), you will be referred to the Massachusetts General Hospital emergency room. If your problem is urgent but not serious (e.g., chipped tooth, tooth pain, lost crowns, broken dentures or fillings), we will see you as soon as possible, usually the next day. Most hospital emergency rooms do not treat dental problems like these.
What are the payment options for employees?
If you have the Delta Dental Premier insurance plan, you only need to pay your co-payments or deductibles at the time of service. MIT Dental will then file a claim with Delta Dental for the balance. Employees with other dental plans must pay in full at the time of service. We accept most major credit cards and personal checks. If you have other dental insurance plans, we will be happy to provide a standard claim form for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
Why doesn't my dental insurance cover treatments that are recommended by the MIT Dental Service?
You will need to ask your dental insurance company. Your dental needs may not correspond with your dental insurance coverage. Only a patient and his or her dentist can determine the most appropriate dental treatment plan.
What are the payment options for MIT students?
MIT students can pay at the time of service with a check or credit card, or have charges placed on their student account. If you have dental insurance, you will be billed at the time of service, and we will be happy to provide a standard claim form for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. There is a discount for registered MIT students who do not have dental insurance through their families or elsewhere.
Currently, MIT Medical does not offer a dental insurance plan for undergraduate students. Graduate students and their families are eligible for Graduate Student Dental Plan. Deductibles and coinsurance still apply.
Will you remind me when my next appointment is coming up?
We will try to call or email you with a reminder. However, this is not always possible. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to remember scheduled appointments.
What should I do if I can't keep a scheduled appointment?
Please call us at 617-253-1501 as soon as possible so we can set up a new appointment. No-shows or last-minute cancellations deny valuable time to other patients and increase the cost of providing care.
