For married students

[shezadeh]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Does anybody know if the amount of loan/financial aid is more for married students (with a kid/kids)?

Also, are there any states that have health programs for people who are uninsured, and have no income (public-aid type?) would medical students qualify?

 

[Bangersandmash]

Also, are there any states that have health programs for people who are uninsured, and have no income (public-aid type?) would medical students qualify?

It's called Medicaid. I'm not sure if its coverage satisfies school requirements though.

 

[shezadeh]

It's called Medicaid

Thanks, I wasn't sure if that was the term for all states. Also, I thought, possibly, there may be Medicaid-like programs that certain states have that students may qualify for.

 

[abolt18]

What I've been told is that the loans are the same married or single (told that at every school at which I interviewed).

You will qualify for Medicaid (insurance, check), foodstamps, and WIC if you have no income (saving money, check). In some places you may even be able to receive assistance on housing. You're married but do you have kids? If so, how many?

From what I've seen, most school's cost of living is pretty reasonable to live off of for a small family but different everywhere depending on COL. I'll get between 25 and 28K in loans in MO and I will be living quite comfortably off that (considering this past year my wife and baby and I lived off much less than that).

 

[NTF]

You can't borrow money because you're married but you can apply for additional funds for each dependent child or childcare if your spouse works or goes to school full-time. In many states you'll be able to qualify for Medicaid, foodstamps, WIC, etc but it varies by state. As long as you don't have any other unsecured debt (car loans, CCs,etc) the loan amount allotted is adequate. I have a stay-at-home wife and 2 kids and we did fine on a frugal budget during medical school relying entirely on federal student loans.

 

[shezadeh]

You're married but do you have kids? If so, how many?

No kids right now, but I am just starting my prereq journey, and we may have one by the time I start (Fall 2016 or Fall 2017)

Thanks!

 

[rguil15]

God willing me and my wife will be heading to med school with a rugrat in tow. Let's hear it for welfare!

Seriously, I get queazy thinking about myself accepting handouts, but when I look at how much I've paid in taxes during my short career as an engineer and how much I'll eventually pay as a doctor, I have no more problems with it. Plus, this is exactly the kind of situation that welfare was designed for, people who just need a little temporary help in order to better themselves......and eventually pay more taxes than one wants to think about.

 

[sgemmell]

Does anybody know if the amount of loan/financial aid is more for married students (with a kid/kids)?

Also, are there any states that have health programs for people who are uninsured, and have no income (public-aid type?) would medical students qualify?

Student loans aren't any higher because of being married. However, you can request a COL increase for minor dependents.

I am a single parent of two boys. I get about $19,000/year in student loan money for COL. I also get $500/month in child support. My boys are eligible for medicaid, and we are eligible for food stamps. In the state I live in, we are not eligible for daycare assistance since I have a bachelors degree and am not currently looking for full-time employment. We live very frugally, but our needs are met and we get to do a few fun things (cheap fun things - like rent a movie type cheap) once in a while.

I hate taking the food stamps and medicaid - but, without those, it would be virtually impossible for us to survive. I so cannot wait to NOT have to rely on these things just to get by.

 

[nontradmomma]

No kids right now, but I am just starting my prereq journey, and we may have one by the time I start (Fall 2016 or Fall 2017)

Thanks!

in my state, Ohio, you only qualify for Medicaid if you have kids or are elderly or disabled. so right now, you could get food stamps but not Medicaid. this can vary from state to state. but i'm pretty sure most states (if not all) will require some sort of disability or medical condition/medication dependency in order to get Medicaid without kids b/c it was mostly created for the elderly, disabled & families. this will change in some states with the PPAC (ObamaCare) Medicaid expansion starting in 2014 but we will have to see what shape this takes in your state. however, if you have kids & are poor, then Medicaid is easy to get in most (if not all) states. I do not know if it would fulfill the requirements for the med school. but even if you had to pay for something else for yourself (using loans or whatever) at least your wife & kid(s) could take advantage of Medicaid even if you did not.

be aware that the dental coverage under Medicaid is not very good for adults in any state (that i know of). so you may want to pay for some supplemental dental insur for you & the wife, though the kid(s) should be ok on Medicaid dental as long as you find a pediatric dentist you like & trust.

 

[rain4venus]

...you can apply for additional funds for each dependent child or childcare if your spouse works or goes to school full-time.

I have a question about this... Can you ONLY obtain additional money to put kids in daycare, or can you borrow extra money for stuff like...food, clothing, housing (like the extra cost to have a 2 bedroom vs. 1 bedroom)?

I know that you can't borrow all that much more, I just don't know if you can only get the extra amount to pay for childcare.

ETA: to everyone who has been offering advice re: finances when it comes to having a family in med school... THANK YOU so much!! 👍👍

 

[NCOldie]

Student loans aren't any higher because of being married. However, you can request a COL increase for minor dependents.

I am a single parent of two boys. I get about $19,000/year in student loan money for COL. I also get $500/month in child support. My boys are eligible for medicaid, and we are eligible for food stamps. In the state I live in, we are not eligible for daycare assistance since I have a bachelors degree and am not currently looking for full-time employment. We live very frugally, but our needs are met and we get to do a few fun things (cheap fun things - like rent a movie type cheap) once in a while.

I hate taking the food stamps and medicaid - but, without those, it would be virtually impossible for us to survive. I so cannot wait to NOT have to rely on these things just to get by.

Is this a request for increase of Federal loans? Wouldn't the school have already taken into account your children when calculating the amount of the loans you would receive? I thought a person could only lower the amount of loan that he/she received, not request more.
Sorry, I am just trying to understand because I am interested in doing this if it is possible because I have two minor children.
Would requesting an increase in loan(s) make it to where future loans would not be as much or can one request higher loans for COL each year?

 

[dsoz]

The school does not care about providing cost of living for anyone except the STUDENT. Dependent children and a spouse don't factor into the equation at all.

The only exception is to put dependent children into daycare situation. Then they will increase the LOAN that they let you take.

According to some, the COA that a school gives is enough for a small family to live on if the budget is really tight. It is best I'd a SO can work to help pay for some food or rent.

dsoz

 

[NTF]

The school does not care about providing cost of living for anyone except the STUDENT. Dependent children and a spouse don't factor into the equation at all.

The only exception is to put dependent children into daycare situation. Then they will increase the LOAN that they let you take.

According to some, the COA that a school gives is enough for a small family to live on if the budget is really tight. It is best I'd a SO can work to help pay for some food or rent.

dsoz

My school allowed upto $300 extra/month for every dependent child.

 

[NTF]

Is this a request for increase of Federal loans? Wouldn't the school have already taken into account your children when calculating the amount of the loans you would receive? I thought a person could only lower the amount of loan that he/she received, not request more.
Sorry, I am just trying to understand because I am interested in doing this if it is possible because I have two minor children.
Would requesting an increase in loan(s) make it to where future loans would not be as much or can one request higher loans for COL each year?

They only calculate the COA for an individual student which will be the same for everyone. You have to apply separately for allowable loan increases such as:
- daycare expenses
- personal computer
- dependent child COL increase ($300/mo per child)
- car repair bills (only covers a percentage)
- child support (if you owe any)
- residency interview expenses (upto $3000 at my school)
- health insurance premiums for dependent children
- emergency medical/dental expenses
- expenses related to disability or medical condition