Is Insurance required for Nursing Schools?

Published

I will be applying to schools next year in the Portland area and was wondering if it is required to have health insurance? If so, do the schools provide it? Is it expensive? (Does it come out of your financial aid?) Can anyone shed some light? Thanks so much!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Each school handles that sort of thing differently. So, you'll have to ask the school you'll be attending about that.

The 3 schools I attended all required health insurance. They accepted the policies that students purchased on their own and/or the group policy that could be purchased through the school and/or student association. The cost came out of the students' pockets and was considered part of the "normal cost of living" and students were expected to budget their funds accordingly.

Of course, other schools may handle the details differently. That's why you will have to check with the school you choose to attend.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

All three of nursing schools I applied to require health insurance (PCC, Linfield, OHSU). The cost is factored into the tuition. When you look at the tuition per term or semester, it's already in there. Therefore, your financial aid does help to cover it. Keep in mind that these insurance plans run only for the school year, so if you fall ill during the summer, you're out of luck. I can only speak for these schools, because they are the only ones I looked into, but insurance is a requirement that you can't get around. If you are concerned about a specific institution, I would recommend going through their website with a fine tooth comb. You will be able to see the school's requirement, and even a break down of the costs.

Hope that helps!:D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
All three of nursing schools I applied to require health insurance (PCC, Linfield, OHSU). The cost is factored into the tuition. When you look at the tuition per term or semester, it's already in there. Therefore, your financial aid does help to cover it. Keep in mind that these insurance plans run only for the school year, so if you fall ill during the summer, you're out of luck. I can only speak for these schools, because they are the only ones I looked into, but insurance is a requirement that you can't get around. If you are concerned about a specific institution, I would recommend going through their website with a fine tooth comb. You will be able to see the school's requirement, and even a break down of the costs.

Hope that helps!:D

OHSU's insurance runs over the summer as well, it runs from September 1 through to the next Aug. 31. The premiums for the summer are spread out to each term's premium.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks you guys.....any general info on how good the prescription plans are.....? Do they even have prescription plans??

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thanks you guys.....any general info on how good the prescription plans are.....? Do they even have prescription plans??

I can only speak for OHSU's plan. It's actually pretty good. Generic's $15/month, name brand's $25/month. If it's a generic on the Walmart/Bimart list....I just buy it without my insurance as it's cheaper ($10/3 months). We're getting a new plan in September so I don't know the other copays yet.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Can you be turned down for pre-existing conditions? I lost my insurance 2 years ago when premiums hit $1,970/month, when I tried applying for 3 different plans I was denied each time because of Type II diabetes. I haven't had insurance since. I applied twice with the State (most recently about 2 months ago) and was denied because I make more than $500/per month. This is one small part of the bigger reasoning to go into nursing/healthcare... I need affordable insurance.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This is an old post but maybe someone will find my input helpful:

At Linfield, it is technically worked into your tuition. There's a pdf you can download and look at the breakdown and get financial aid/loans for that number. What happens is the school will charge you the fees and tuition and whatnot but insurance is something that you do separately so it will not come in your bill at the beginning of the term but it will be a separate cost that is required, like textbooks.

Also, really figure out your home bills and costs because when I went by the suggested number in that pdf form, i probably will have borrowed *too* much money - last term I had to return some of it but you can only do that with government loans easily whereas bank loans you're pretty much stuck with.

Good luck! I'm in the midst of dealing with insurance and I know it's a pain.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Can you be turned down for pre-existing conditions? I lost my insurance 2 years ago when premiums hit $1,970/month, when I tried applying for 3 different plans I was denied each time because of Type II diabetes. I haven't had insurance since. I applied twice with the State (most recently about 2 months ago) and was denied because I make more than $500/per month. This is one small part of the bigger reasoning to go into nursing/healthcare... I need affordable insurance.

I don't think you can be turned down with OHSU's plan (they never even asked if we had pre-existing conditions), it's a group plan...just like you'd get with an employer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion