College program- health insurance and financial aid?

[thatcrazydisneygirl]

Hi all. I've been lurking just a bit for a few days. I've gotten a lot of my questions answered this way.

I'm in the process of applying for the college program in fall of 2010. I have my phone interview Thursday night.

I'm looking to see how others have handled their health insurance and financial aid situations through the program. To qualify for my parents health insurance plan, I need to be a full time student (12 credits). The same applies to my financial aid.

I've been trying to get answers at my school but its like pulling teeth! Nobody knows anything and everyone keeps telling me to talk to someone else.

I'm so determined to do this program, credits or not but really cannot loose my health insurance or have to start making payments on my student loans while doing it.

 

[JoMarie]

I don't have an answer for you, but I'm sending Pixie Dust your way for your interview! Let us know how it goes!

 

[ZeroToHero]

If you talk to your school, they may be able to freeze your financial aid.

Also, check health insurance law. In Massachusetts, dependent children are covered by their parents' insurance up to age 26, no matter if they're in school or not.

 

[tink774]

Good luck with your interview!

Unfortunately I don't have any info that can help you. I'm graduating in May and I'll be off of my parents' insurance plan in April (the cutoff age is 22). My parents have very graciously offered to pay for my new insurance plan while I'm on the CP because any money I'll be making is going to my savings, excluding money for food. They understand that I probably won't be making enough to cover health insurance, car insurance, rent, food, etc., and still have anything substantial left in my savings when I finish the program and really be "on my own". So covering health/car is basically my graduation present.

Anyway, good luck to you with the insurance and financial aid! It is frustrating to get these things straightened out. At my university, the financial aid office is full of monkeys who never know how to help me.

 

[Disney_Lover06]

It all depends on your state and insurance plan. For example my insurance is cut off at age 23 even if you are still in school. However, I'm 22 and will be graduating this may but will still be covered under my parent's plan until Jan. since our plan last for a entire year.

So check with your insurance plan. Also most schools do freeze your financial aid or you might have to take 12 hours of credit online to keep your financial aid.

 

[DisneyAngie]

deleted

 

[Amanda132]

At my school, you basically withdraw from the university for a semester, but since financial aid is disbursed per year at my school, it remains as long as you return the next semester. Also, since my school doesn't support the program, they help students enroll in an internship credit thingy at a nearby community college, so they remain on their parents' health insurance. Though all schools are probably different. But it was hard for me to get this info at my school too... keep trying! Eventually you'll probably find someone who can help you. Good luck!

 

[karliebug]

My daughter actually took a leave of absence from her college, as they wouldn't give her any credits. She then enrolled for 12 credits with Central Michigan University (there is a link to them on the CP website) which was about $2500 (much cheaper than her school's tuition). Then she can transfer those credits to her university as general ed. credits. It was the cheapest option for us. And the work involved to get the 12 credits seemed less than taking actual online courses from her school as well as cheaper. She goes to Penn State.

 

[ZeroToHero]

If no one can give you information, set up an appointment with a Dean, and explain the situation to them. They might be the persont to talk to - and if not, ask them who to talk to, since you've talked to everyone else.

 

[DonnaL]

Like Karliebug's daughter, my son is also a student at Penn State and is planning to do the same thing with Central Michigan if he gets accepted for the CP Spring 2011. For some reason, Penn State doesn't seem to willingly participate in the CP. He was told by his advisor he "might" be able to get 3 credits as an internship, but, probably not. If he didn't get internship credit he would then need to take 4 online PSU courses to maintain his full time 12 credit status. However, Penn State will accept the credits from Central Michigan .....it will give him gen ed credits he doesn't need, but, so what.......and it appears that the course work required would be less than trying to juggle 3 or 4 online courses and as karliebug said.... the cost is also substantially less than a semester at Penn State.

 

[DonnaL]

Like Karliebug's daughter, my son is also a student at Penn State and is planning to do the same thing with Central Michigan if he gets accepted for the CP Spring 2011. For some reason, Penn State doesn't seem to willingly participate in the CP. He was told by his advisor he "might" be able to get 3 credits as an internship, but, probably not. If he didn't get internship credit he would then need to take 4 online PSU courses to maintain his full time 12 credit status. However, Penn State will accept the credits from Central Michigan .....it will give him gen ed credits he doesn't need, but, so what.......and it appears that the course work required would be less than trying to juggle 3 or 4 online courses and as karliebug said.... the cost is also substantially less than a semester at Penn State.