It is simple: i have been a student at MIT for 6 years and I've never got to see my general practitioner, because he is never available. For my yearly check up appointment with a nurse practitioner I had to wait 6 months and got my appointment canceled because it was not urgent! (I actually never got any yearly check up in 6 years). So i have had no routine exams whatsoever and if I am sick it is automatically self-medication for me because there is no other ways.
So for serious illness or high fever, the secretaries always tell you there is nothing available for the next 6 months and offer you to go to emergency care. Here you see someone, but there is no follow up. But at least they don't let you die right away!!
Strangely enough, I have been able to meet with a doctor as a specialist: dermatologist, ophthalmologist and ob/gyn over these 6 years.
Now that I am pregnant, the prenatal program is awesome with a very nice monthly follow up & tests. But anything that is not directly connected to pregnancy, the ob/gyn redirects you to your general practitioner, the problem is that even pregnant with high fever I could not get access to a nurse nor a doctor, and had to go to emergency care... when everyone is here waiting with masks and potentially with H1N1, it is not really the safest!
So in general I'd say this is the worse medical system I have experienced. Our health care insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield student extended insurance plan) does not cover outside visits either. So if you can waive MIT health insurance and stay under your parent's one, I recommend you do it.
Pros: Near the campus
Cons: Can never meet with a doctor
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