How: Health Ins, work, school???

Nursing Students General Students

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Hi everyone!

So after many years and obstacles, I've made it into the nursing program at my school. Im so excited, anxious and just a ball of emotions. Ive been waiting for this since I was 19 (32 now).

Now to the hard part. Im not sure how to manage this workload...until I got in the program, i worked full time-36 hours/wk with benefits (at the hospital as a CNA). I dropped the schedule down to the minimum amount required to keep my Health insurance benefits, which is 20 per week. 20 is ok for now as I only have one class (lecture, lab, and clinicals) even though it leaves no time for anything else. My biggest concern is fall of 17, when I'll be taking 2 lectures, 2 labs and 2 clinicals. If I go down to PRN, I lose my health insurance. If I get married to my fiancé earlier than we are wanting to, I lose ALL of my financial aid, (which is paying for everything) and his health insurance premium triples to $300/wk. My fiancé and I have talked about this numerous times, he just doesn't get it. I might not be able to work as much as he thinks. I don't mind working at all. I just don't think that being tied down to working a certain amount of hours would work. I told him that the best id probably be able to do is work enough to put gas in my car and some walking around money. I've looked at individual health plans, and they cost about the same I'm paying now, except they are crappy. Which I'm hoping I could live with for a year. And no, my school does not offer insurance. Is there anything I could do? I need my health insurance of course because its the law, but even if I wanted to for go it and suck it up at tax time; I couldn't. It's a requirement for this nursing program. How do they expect nursing students to not work and maintain health insurance??? not all students are under 26 and under their parents plan, or married under their spouses insurance. I don't know what to do.

TIA

Cathy

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Hi Cathy,

OMG I completely understand what you mean about having insurance while not working at all. To me it sounds quite ridiculous. At this point I am taking my pre-reqs so I am going rather slowly; and I do have insurance through my employer. But once I will apply, and hopefully get into, an accelerated BSN, which is a full-time program, I will no longer be able to work, not even part-time! Hence, I will lose my insurance. Yet, I will also be required to have an insurance! I do not see how that is possible. Unless, a medicaid? Did you consider applying to a medicaid? Check it out and see if you qualify. If so, I guess your problem is solved! At this point I do not see another solution to it.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Critical care.
Hi Cathy,

OMG I completely understand what you mean about having insurance while not working at all. To me it sounds quite ridiculous. At this point I am taking my pre-reqs so I am going rather slowly; and I do have insurance through my employer. But once I will apply, and hopefully get into, an accelerated BSN, which is a full-time program, I will no longer be able to work, not even part-time! Hence, I will lose my insurance. Yet, I will also be required to have an insurance! I do not see how that is possible. Unless, a medicaid? Did you consider applying to a medicaid? Check it out and see if you qualify. If so, I guess your problem is solved! At this point I do not see another solution to it.

Good luck!

Most schools that have accelerated BSN programs are universities that have contracts with companies for health insurance for the students. I did an ABSN program and the cost of my insurance got lumped in with my tuition. If the student couldn't provide proof of adequate coverage they were automatically enrolled. I think most students have issues at smaller colleges, such as community colleges, that don't offer/provide insurance options.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

If you aren't working then you would probably qualify for medicaid or if you work very part time look for coverage through obamacare. I know people only paying 50 a month for their insurance through obamacare.

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.

1. Medicaid. You'd have a legitimate need rather than the others who choose not to work or advance themselves.

2. School insurance. Most colleges have cheap policies to sell. At Vanderbilt, the policy will even cover a sex change.

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I failed to mention this before, I've already asked my school whether they provide insurance. It's a small community college, they don't. Does Medicaid look at household or individual income? If they look at household, I wouldn't qualify, my fiancé makes too much. I looked at their website, and it seems I kept going in circles.:confused: My only option at this point is for my fiancé to pay out of pocket for a policy. I really don't want to go that route, because it's not fair to him to pay ALL expenses. I know I still have a year, but I need to plan ahead. This seems so unrealistic; they harp on nursing students to not work, yet require not only by law and for their program, to get health insurance...Im not under 26 anymore to be on my parents insurance, and we are not getting married for that sole purpose..SO frustrating.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Im not sure if they look at household when you arent married, it's worth calling. Check out affordable healthcare when it's open enrollment in November. You might qualify for cheap insurance through the marketplace.

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I'm on Medicaid for the purposes of nursing school...was told I was eligible for it when I tried to buy an Obamacare policy. FYI, you can apply for Medicaid year-round, not just during the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period that starts in November.

This may not be a *comfortable* suggestion, but it could be a *doable* one - live apart from your fiance for the duration of nursing school so you'll qualify for Medicaid or a cheap Obamacare plan. As someone else said, I'd consider it a legit usage of state aid given that you'll be out working and paying taxes soon enough.

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I'm on Medicaid because I quit my job to finish my prereqs way faster. I have had hardly any problems with it, it has been smoother than all of my insurances through past employment and I have had some good plans. I plan on going back on it once I start nursing school next year.

I know of other students that refused to do it and work full time while going to school but their GPA is suffering because of it. My local programs are too competitive not to put my full attention towards school and not worry about work.

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