Is it possible? 3yr HPSP to 4yr HPSP

[Poseidon]

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I am a MS1+ waiting for my senate scroll to show up(3 mos already) so I can sign the contract for a 3yr HPSP. I have had a whole year to research the program and read the comments on this site so I "know" what I am getting into.

My question: Does anyone know if I could retroactively sign a 4 yr contract to cover my first year of med school? I know the funds are there since they were short last year. Any ideas??

 

[delicatefade]

I doubt it. A friend of mine took a 2 year Navy scholarship 😱 near the end of our MS-2 year and they were not willing to cover his second year of medical school. They would only pay for his 3rd and 4th years. And this is the Navy, whose HPSP fill rates have not been stellar lately...

 

[NavyFP]

I am a MS1+ waiting for my senate scroll to show up(3 mos already) so I can sign the contract for a 3yr HPSP. I have had a whole year to research the program and read the comments on this site so I "know" what I am getting into.

My question: Does anyone know if I could retroactively sign a 4 yr contract to cover my first year of med school? I know the funds are there since they were short last year. Any ideas??

The answer is no. The Navy can only start paying for your school on your benefit start date. This happens after you sign your commissioning documents and your school starts. The government cannot pay for anything retroactively. Pain in the butt, but so it is.

There is a loan repayment program that you can put in for once you go on active duty.

 

[colbgw02]

The answer is no. The Navy can only start paying for your school on your benefit start date. This happens after you sign your commissioning documents and your school starts. The government cannot pay for anything retroactively. Pain in the butt, but so it is.

There is a loan repayment program that you can put in for once you go on active duty.

Are you sure about the loan repayment program? I have been told and was under the impression that someone who already had an ADSO, whether through HPSP, ROTC, USUHS, or an academy, was not eligible HPLR or FAP.

 

[NavyFP]

Are you sure about the loan repayment program? I have been told and was under the impression that someone who already had an ADSO, whether through HPSP, ROTC, USUHS, or an academy, was not eligible HPLR or FAP.

Well my answer yesterday would be different from my answer today. Per Title 10 U.S.C (one of the subsections governs HPSP and HPLRP) anyone who is HPSP should not be allowed to take HPLRP. (Pesky lawyers) But the Health Affairs instruction only limits that to 4 year HPSP students. So, there needs to be some ironing out of the rules. USUHS graduates are ineligible for HPLRP, but I have not seen any limitations based on ROTC or academies.

Common sense would dictate that if you are not a 4 year, paying loans incurred for the first one or two years would be a reasonable idea, but unfortunately we are not run on common sense and must use the rules we have. That issue is being worked, but may require and Act of Congress to fix.

FAP is a different story. We have had many HPSP who go out on full deferment apply and get FAP. It simply adds to the obligated service time.

Clear as mud??

 

[colbgw02]

Well my answer yesterday would be different from my answer today. Per Title 10 U.S.C (one of the subsections governs HPSP and HPLRP) anyone who is HPSP should not be allowed to take HPLRP. (Pesky lawyers) But the Health Affairs instruction only limits that to 4 year HPSP students. So, there needs to be some ironing out of the rules. USUHS graduates are ineligible for HPLRP, but I have not seen any limitations based on ROTC or academies.

Common sense would dictate that if you are not a 4 year, paying loans incurred for the first one or two years would be a reasonable idea, but unfortunately we are not run on common sense and must use the rules we have. That issue is being worked, but may require and Act of Congress to fix.

FAP is a different story. We have had many HPSP who go out on full deferment apply and get FAP. It simply adds to the obligated service time.

Clear as mud??

It actually would be interesting to me to figure this out. I have an ADSO of 4 years and I'm doing a military residency, but I didn't go to USUHS and I didn't do HPSP.

Working on the assumption that I'm eligible, I'm wondering how the numbers stack up with doing HPLRP versus signing on for multiyear special pay.

For HPLRP, I could get up to $50K a year, but more likely it would be ~$25K. I'm wondering if that's tax free, though. On the other hand, the most I could get a year for MSP is $14K, and I'm almost positive that's not tax exempt.

Anybody have any more information on this? It'd be nice to know if we've found a loophole to squeeze some more dough outta Uncle Sam.

 

[NavyFP]

It actually would be interesting to me to figure this out. I have an ADSO of 4 years and I'm doing a military residency, but I didn't go to USUHS and I didn't do HPSP.

Working on the assumption that I'm eligible, I'm wondering how the numbers stack up with doing HPLRP versus signing on for multiyear special pay.

For HPLRP, I could get up to $50K a year, but more likely it would be ~$25K. I'm wondering if that's tax free, though. On the other hand, the most I could get a year for MSP is $14K, and I'm almost positive that's not tax exempt.

Anybody have any more information on this? It'd be nice to know if we've found a loophole to squeeze some more dough outta Uncle Sam.

All right, I am wondering what you are smoking, cuz it must be good stuff. I want some.

HPLRP maxes at just under $31K and it is taxable, that means about 22-23K goes towards loans. And remember it must go towards qualifying loans. Not just any loans.

From my opinion, I think a 4 year MSP in most specialties trumps HPLRP. If you want less than a 4 year deal, it can be better. Especially considering you can spend it as you choose. Do the math decide for yourself.

 

[colbgw02]

All right, I am wondering what you are smoking, cuz it must be good stuff. I want some.

HPLRP maxes at just under $31K and it is taxable, that means about 22-23K goes towards loans. And remember it must go towards qualifying loans. Not just any loans.

From my opinion, I think a 4 year MSP in most specialties trumps HPLRP. If you want less than a 4 year deal, it can be better. Especially considering you can spend it as you choose. Do the math decide for yourself.

Umm, to my knowledge, nothing, and I'm pretty sure about that because I had to pee in a cup just last week.

Clearly HPLRP is not a better option if one does not intend on spending all the money on loans. Within the confines of our construct, I thought that would have been a given.

I checked the pay tables, and even for a level I specialty with a 4-year commitment, MSP is only an extra $14K before taxes. Per your figures, HPLRP would give ~$22K after taxes. All other things being equal, to include that the money would go toward loans, it seems like an easy decision.

Is it possible that you are confusing ISP with MSP?

Also, are medical school loans considered qualifying loans?

Thanks for the knowledge.

 

[NavyFP]

Umm, to my knowledge, nothing, and I'm pretty sure about that because I had to pee in a cup just last week.

Clearly HPLRP is not a better option if one does not intend on spending all the money on loans. Within the confines of our construct, I thought that would have been a given.

I checked the pay tables, and even for a level I specialty with a 4-year commitment, MSP is only an extra $14K before taxes. Per your figures, HPLRP would give ~$22K after taxes. All other things being equal, to include that the money would go toward loans, it seems like an easy decision.

Is it possible that you are confusing ISP with MSP?

Also, are medical school loans considered qualifying loans?

Thanks for the knowledge.

I just looked. The pay tables on DFAS are incorrect.
MSP went up a bunch this current fiscal year.


Specialty


Column 2+5
4 YR
MSP
with ISP/(MISP)


Anesthesiology $83,000
Dermatology $35,000
Emergency Medicine $51,000
Family Practice $38,000
Gastroenterology $62,000
General Surgery $67,000
Internal Medicine $39,000
Neurology $39,000
Neurosurgery $91,000
OB/GYN $64000
Ophthalmology $53,000
Orthopedics $74,000
Otolaryngology $66,000
Pathology $44,000
Pediatrics $27,000
Prev/Occ/Phys Med & Aero Med $30,000
Psychiatry $32,000
Pulmonary $67,000
Radiology $75,000
Subspecialty Category I $82,000
Subspecialty Category II $45,000
Subspecialty Category III $43,000
Subspecialty Category IV $39,000
Urology $61,000

The numbers listed are the 4 year MSP + the ISP. They have started to tie ISP to MSP so if you do not sign for the 4 year MSP you get less total money.

I have attached the whole table.

 

[colbgw02]

Ah, now that makes more sense. I had, indeed, been using the DFAS website table.

So, it looks like ISP goes up if you agree to any MSP commitment. Then, MSP goes up incrementally based on the length of obligation, with the largest jump between the 3 and 4 year commitments.

Good to know, thanks again.