Health Insurance for a new student.

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I recently got accepted into a nursing program at a local college. I was super excited until I received the list of necessary documents and saw that it included proof health insurance. The problem is not that I cannot afford the health insurance, it would be rough but I can do it. Up to this point though I have not had coverage due to the financial burden and the fact that I did not need it. Now that I need it, I don't know if I have any way to get it! My school doesn't offer any form of insurance for students, the open enrollment period is over, and I don't qualify for any of the special eligibility enrollment periods for health insurance. My parents do not have insurance that I can be added onto. My current employer does not reopen enrollment for several months. Has anyone had any experience in this matter? I was hoping if I possibly met the nursing director, that she would possibly waive me for the first semester. I don't know if thats a possibility, but I'm hoping since there are no clinicals in the first semester, I would be allowed to slide as long as I obtained coverage by the time the next semester rolled around. I would appreciate any advice!

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

Call HR at your job to see if they can open your enrollment. Sounds like a legit reason. If that doesn't work your only option is to speak to the director

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

You can get short term insurance, thats what I did, its only 70 a month. it doesn't include the things required by Obama care. It won't get you out of the penalty fee and you can only have it for six months at a time. But my school accepted it. I want to say the site was ehealthinsurance . Com.

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Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately I live in NJ, and they don't offer those kind of short term policies.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately I live in NJ, and they don't offer those kind of short term policies.

Oh no, I didn't realize it was a state by state thing, sorry.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

"Up to this point though I have not had coverage due to the financial burden and the fact that I did not need it. "

You have always needed it- you just kind of chose to be in denial. Not sure if you qualify, but there are group share alternatives that your school might accept. Samaritan Ministries International - Samaritan Ministries International is one our family used during a time of unemployment many years ago.

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Specializes in Critical care.

Have you looked into whether or not this counts as a "life event"'that would qualify you for special enrollment? When one moves, gets married/divorced, has a kid, etc. these count as life events and allow changes to be made outside typical enrollment periods. Starting school might qualify as a life event.

Also, are you sure you can't get temporary health coverage in NJ? A quick Google search brought up the eHealth insurance website for NJ: New Jersey Short term Health Insurance

Good luck!

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This is my exact problem as well! OP, if you've figured it out, can you please share it with me? :cry:

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