MIT Medical’s walk-in Urgent Care Service is open from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. every day for urgent, but non-life-threatening emergencies. If you are dealing with a life-threatening situation that requires emergency care, call:
- Cambridge: Dial 100 (campus phone) or 617-253-1212 (any phone)
- Lexington: Dial 911
- Off campus: Dial 911
We may also be able to provide advice by phone. You can call us at 617-253-4481, 24 hours a day. If the problem is not urgent and a clinician is not readily available, we will take your number and call you back within an hour.
When you speak with the clinician by phone, he or she will help you in one of the following ways:
- Answer your questions, give you advice, and/or explain what you should do immediately at home.
- Ask you to come in right away.
- Direct you to the nearest emergency room or one of our affiliated hospitals.
For pediatric patients: Pediatric coverage is available until 6 p.m. on regular business days and from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on holidays and weekends. Please call 617-253-4481 before coming in to find out if a pediatric clinician is available.
Eligibility to use Urgent Care
All members of the MIT community are eligible to use the Urgent Care Service. Employees and dependents covered by the MIT Traditional and MIT Choice Plans will have a copay for services. There is no copay or other charge for MIT students or their covered dependents. For benefits-eligible employees covered by outside insurance and for Medicare-eligible retirees, benefits are determined by individual coverage, and you may be billed for any copayment, coinsurance, or non-covered services. Patients covered by outside insurance will be required to register and provide insurance information when using MIT Medical services for the first time.
For visitors
Though the Urgent Care Service is not open to the general public, we can see visiting family members or guests of MIT community members and individuals who are on campus for MIT events.
However, the Urgent Care Service ONLY accepts MIT insurance plans, the Draper Harvard Pilgrim HMO, and Medicare. If you do not have one of those plans, you may need to pay the full cost of your visit to the Urgent Care Service, including any copays, deductibles, and co-insurance. Your health insurance may not cover any portion of the cost.
For a list of local urgent care, emergency room, and pharmacy options that may accept your health insurance, download A Visitor's Guide to Local Health Care Services.
What to expect
Patients who need immediate attention are seen first. If the clinic is busy, you may need to wait before being seen. If you're on a tight schedule and your problem isn't urgent, we recommend making an appointment with your primary care provider or the appropriate clinical service.
Common symptoms
Since many symptoms and minor accidents can be treated at home, please review our Tips for Common Symptoms — it may save you a trip.
