Urgent Care: What you need to know

MIT Medical is available by phone 24 hours a day at 617-253-4481, and our Urgent Care Service in Cambridge is open from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. M–F, and 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. These services are available to all Lincoln Laboratory employees and family members, regardless of health insurance coverage.

The Urgent Care Service is open to all members of the MIT community. If you have the MIT Student Health Insurance Plan (MIT SHIP), you can use the Urgent Care Service with no copay or other charge. If you are covered by an MIT employee health plan, you’ll have a $10 copay in Urgent Care. But if you don’t have MIT insurance, and you come to Urgent Care, you might have to pay the whole bill yourself. For example, if you visit Urgent Care without MIT insurance for a strep throat, it will probably cost around $215. A sprained ankle could cost about $380. Read more about how to get care if you don’t have MIT insurance.

How does it work?

You can come into the walk-in Urgent Care Service any time from 8 a.m.–8 p.m. (last patient check-in, 7:30 p.m.). You don’t need an appointment in Urgent Care, but you will have to wait for your turn. If many people come into Urgent Care at the same time, or if someone comes in with a serious medical problem or a bad injury, your wait might be long. The shortest Urgent Care wait times are usually early in the morning (8–10 a.m.) and later at night (6–8 p.m.)

Can I bring my children to Urgent Care?

Yes. However, we recommend you call (617-253-4481) before coming in, to ensure a pediatric clinician is available. 

Alternatives to Urgent Care

If you don’t cannot come in to Urgent Care, you have a few other options:

  • Take care of the problem at home: You can take care of many symptoms and minor injuries at home. Look at our Tips for Common Symptoms. Or call MIT Medical’s Help Line, available 24 hours a day at 617-253-4481, When you call, you’ll talk to a clinician who can tell how to take care of the problem at home, or give you advice about what to do next. You can use our interpreter service when you call.
  • 24-hour Help Line: Call 617-253-4481 for guidance on what to do if you or a family member has an urgent medical problem.