Health Insurance for nursing school?

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Hi Everyone,

I haven't been accepted into a program yet (just did all my applications), but I thought that this forum would be the best place to ask, since you're all in nursing school already.

My school requires that we have health insurance and some kind of , and I'm clueless as to how I'm going to be able to pay for it. I had to move back home in order to go back to school, and I'm currently unemployed (won't be working when I start nursing school).

The last time I had health insurance was about 10 years ago, and I was paying almost $300 a month. I hurt my knee, and after some time I dropped the insurance because it got too expensive. Low and behold, 2 years later I went to apply for insurance and I couldn't get insured. My knee is fine, btw - and I have no health issues/nonsmoker.

Assuming that I will be able to get insurance now - are there "basic" plans that are cheaper? Is there anyone out there willing to share what they are currently paying? Does your school offer some kind of group rate? Even $100 is a lot to me, but I'm hoping that I can use grant money to help pay for it. I live in California. I'll probably find out more after I attend my nursing seminar in 2 weeks, I'm just feeling a little anxious about this right now! It's totally stressing me out & I'm worried that lack of funds might prevent me from attending. Any advice/guidance is very much appreciated! :)

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I cant believe your school is making you get health insurance. Honestly that should be a personal decision, not the schools...sad. Im lucky enough that Im still under 26 and under my parents plan, but not for too much longer. I couldn't imagine paying for health insurance now days especially while in school! Im sorry, I definitely feel for you. I don't know any plans that are cheap or affordable other than medicaid if thats an option for you.

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My university requires it as well for every student, not just nursing students. The student plan at my school is about $190 a month, the local CC here was $175 a month. Both of these were still cheaper than what I was quoted for individual plans.

On 10/1 the health insurance exchanges are supposed to be available so that may be a better option for you.

https://www.healthcare.gov/what-is-the-health-insurance-marketplace/

Can't help on the since that is included in my fees I pay to the school.

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Specializes in School nursing.

When I was in nursing school, I got insurance through my school. I took out additional loans to cover it (built into the cost of education that my school quoted for loan purposes). Mine was part of a grad plan, so it was more expensive, but the undergrad plan was ~$1600 for the year (I'm in MA).

As for , I was covered by my school, but since you are it is very affordable through nso.com. I put in the perimeters for my state (MA) as a RN student and it is $37 for the year with $1M per incident up to $6M coverage (which is the same $$ coverage I have as a RN).

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My university requires every student have insurance too. It's about $1300 a year and I pay for it with financial aid. (I'm in MA)

The nursing students are all covered under the departments and there's no special charge to us thankfully.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

first check with the school to see if they have something to offer. If not, contact a general agent for quotes on plans with higher deductibles (premiums will be lower). If you have any for your car, house, etc that insurer may be able to add a rider for what the school requires. In my experience the school provided the plan and the student paid the premium. Good luck.

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Thank You SO MUCH everyone! I feel a little better about it now. For the liability, hopefully my school will include it and I'll find out in a couple of weeks....it makes sense that they would (hopefully!). If not, I'll check out nso.com or whatever the school suggests.

For the health insurance, I'm hoping they will allow me to incorporate the costs into my financial aid/loans. I'm glad to hear that some of you were able to do that. If not, it looks like I'll have to start hunting for plans and figure out a way to pay for it.

Although 170-190 sounds reasonable for health insurance, I don't have a way to pay for that right now. Considering that my school suggests not working while in the program, you'd think that they would offer options for the cost of required insurance. I'll let you know what happens when I find out. Thanks again!

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Many nursing schools require you to get . If you need to get LI, go through NSO. I paid $22 for the entire year. Professional Liability Insurance for nurses, nursing medical malpractice. I recommend that you have your policy start in the month that you actually start clinicals so that the policy will last a little longer for you. If you don't have classes that require a clinical for the first few months, there is no need to have your policy active yet. But before you do that, check with your school to see when exactly you have your first clinical class.

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My school requires health insurance for all FT students regardless of major anyway - but it offers a plan for $500/semester if you don't have your own. They auto-bill for insurance, which makes it easy to throw into financial aid and loans, then people that have their own insurance can go through the hoops to provide proof and get the charges removed.

My nursing program includes the in the fees tacked on to our bill. I had a bit of initial confusion with that as well since it was listed as a clinical requirement, but didn't actually involve any action on our parts like the other items on that list. So definitely check that out before you get your own.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I know the National Student Nurses Association offers through the NSO and had a group plan for healthcare. Not sure about the rates but if you're a member (or are thinking of joining) this might be an option.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, ICU.
I cant believe your school is making you get health insurance. Honestly that should be a personal decision not the schools...sad. Im lucky enough that Im still under 26 and under my parents plan, but not for too much longer. I couldn't imagine paying for health insurance now days especially while in school! Im sorry, I definitely feel for you. I don't know any plans that are cheap or affordable other than medicaid if thats an option for you.[/quote']

My school requires us to have health insurance as well. When we got our new student nursing orientation they offered some suggestions on where to get health insurance as they are willing to work with us as students.

I'm assuming that night not be an option for you since you are asking but I would still ask nursing coordinators at your school, your advisor, other nursing students there to find out where you can acquire health insurance. Are your parents willing to help you cover the cost?

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

Does the school offer a health plan? I went to school in Massachusetts, where any student taking more than 9 credits has to carry health insurance. Every community college in the state offered the same extremely bad student health plan. Not only did it explicitly exclude organ transplants, it didn't meet the state minimum for insurance, even though it was offered by the state.

If your employer does not offer health insurance, and your state has a health care exchange, you may be better off signing up for that.

NSO offers , and also offers some kind of group health plan.

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