Health & Welfare Benefits

Harvard provides comprehensive health benefits and insurance programs that support you and your family. With our many options, you can find coverage that meets your needs at all stages of your life.

Effective March 20, 2024 - We Are Moving!

On March 20, Harvard Benefits will be moving to 124 Mount Auburn Street.

Our new location does not allow for unscheduled walk-in traffic, so in-person meetings will be by appointment only. We strongly encourage virtual Teams/Zoom appointments when possible.

Virtual and in-person appointments for faculty, staff, and retirees can be scheduled by calling 617-496-4001 or by emailing benefits@harvard.edu.

Summary of Available Coverage

  • Medical Harvard offers subsidized medical coverage from Harvard University Group Health Plan (HUGHP) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA). 
  • Dental Harvard offers in-network and out-of-network dental coverage through MetLife Dental.
     
  • Vision In addition to the vision benefits offered under our medical plans, Harvard offers a comprehensive vision care plan from EyeMed.
     
  • Disability & Life Insurance Free basic life insurance and short term disability provide basic financial protection. You may purchase additional long term disability coverage and life insurance at competitive rates as well as dependent life insurance for spouses/domestic partners and eligible children.
     
  • Retiree Health Retirees who meet eligibility requirements have a choice of health plans for themselves and eligible dependents.

Related Benefits

  • Reimbursement Programs Harvard offers several reimbursement programs to provide additional financial protection for certain employees who have high out-of-pocket medical expenses in a given year.
     
  • Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts enable you to pay for eligible expenses using pre-tax dollars, lowering your taxable income. A Health Savings Account is available to those covered by the high-deductible health plan.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Harvard’s health and welfare benefits, you must be employed in a benefits-eligible position on a regular University payroll and work at least 17.5 hours per week, or be paid at a base annual rate of at least $15,000. Eligibility requirements for represented employees may vary by union contract.

The following dependents are eligible for Harvard’s medical, dental and vision care plans under family coverage (the employee must be enrolled in the same plan):

  • spouse or registered domestic partner;
     
  • eligible children up to age 26, including children by birth, adoption, foster placement, marriage/domestic partnership, or legal guardianship;
     
  • children of any age who are incapable of self-support due to disability (must have become disabled before age 26 and have been continuously covered).

For information on special eligibility situations, including domestic partners, COBRA and others, please refer to our Eligibility - Special Situations Overview.

Note: The benefits described here are a summary and every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy. The actual benefit plan provisions will govern if there is any inconsistency between the information on this website and Harvard’s formal plan documents.