What kinds of welfare were you able to get in medical school?

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Magyarzorag

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Some of the most common ones I've seen on this forum have been:

Medicaid
SNAP (if they have children or a family)

I was also planning on getting heating/energy assistance, and maybe a housing grant.

Feel free to list or share any welfare you qualified for! As medical students, we can all use a little extra help/cash
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Magyarzorag said:
Some of the most common ones I've seen on this forum have been:

Medicaid
SNAP (if they have children or a family)

I was also planning on getting heating/energy assistance, and maybe a housing grant.

Feel free to list or share any welfare you qualified for! As medical students, we can all use a little extra help/cash
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You should be able to pay bills as a med student on the loans
 
This post ties back into the “PR” thread. Talking about going this while going into a field that will be making 6 figs taking out welfare is a bad look. Only way you might qualify is if you’re married and have multiple kids with a SO that doesn’t make a lot.
 
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Magyarzorag said:
Some of the most common ones I've seen on this forum have been:

Medicaid
SNAP (if they have children or a family)

I was also planning on getting heating/energy assistance, and maybe a housing grant.

Feel free to list or share any welfare you qualified for! As medical students, we can all use a little extra help/cash
Click to expand...

@Magyarzorag Just wanted to say that I totally understand where you’re coming from! Living in a 500 square ft apartment and buying the highest colaric content food for the cheapest price is not a great way to live, even if you’re going to be making 6 figures at some point in the not-so-near future. That said, I am not aware of any welfare programs that are specific to med students. For a point in time last year, I was able to get food stamps, but that was because I was able to prove “longitudinal poverty” in my family history and as an individual and was eligible for these prior to medical school, not because I am in medical school. I’m also on Medicaid. Another great option for those coming from a lower SES is the educational opportunity fund. However, this is only available in certain states and you have to have documention of prior government assistance or previous attendence of a grade school located in low SES zip code in order to qualify
 
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I used Medicaid, heating assistance, the GI Bill, and WIC. It's ridiculous to think that because I will someday make a high income I shouldn't use welfare services. That's exactly what they are for! I'm a first generation college student and the social safety net programs have helped give my family upward social mobility. Welfare services are the bootstraps I've pull myself up with. In 4 years I'll be making 6 figures and paying plenty of taxes to help the guy or gal after me to do the same.
 
My unemployed millionaire Trump loving brother who lives in the house in which we grew up had the thermostat turned up to 75 when I visited a couple of Christmas’s ago. I asked isn’t your gas bill hundreds of dollars? He replied that he only pays $30 regardless of how much gas he uses because he is enrolled in a low income energy program. Our system is truly f’d up. He’s the poster boy for why we need a wealth tax.
 
I won't get into the politics of these programs. But, here are some stuff that you can qualify for:

1) WIC for infant formula milk. It should help a ton considering that each can costs about $20. Should get about 7-9 cans of formula per month
2) SNAP foodstamp. Amount is dependent upon family size.
3) Low income energy subsidy. Amount ranges from $500-1,000 per year
4) Medicaid. Huge help especially if you have young kids.

These programs are exactly for people like you.
 
I have classmates who have dual physician parents who are on SNAP as a way of lowing their loans.
 
Medicaid for our kid. Depending on SO income, you’ll likely get a very large subsidy for health insurance on the marketplace.
 
IntheClouds4ever said:
Medicaid for our kid. Depending on SO income, you’ll likely get a very large subsidy for health insurance on the marketplace.
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Ho0v-man said:
Medicaid and SNAP. I paid for these programs in my previous career and will again as a doctor. I’m happy to pay my share in taxes to these programs when I’m an attending.
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Which state are you from. I'm not sure if in most states, you can qualify for SNAP unless you have a dependent
 
Newhorizons21 said:
I used Medicaid, heating assistance, the GI Bill, and WIC. It's ridiculous to think that because I will someday make a high income I shouldn't use welfare services. That's exactly what they are for!
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Actually, they're not. As a single medical student, your cost of attendance loan will cover your living expenses and if it doesn't, you're doing something wrong. If you're married with several kids, I could understand, but most med students are single. If they can't get by on their loans, that's a problem.
 
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Mass Effect said:
Actually, they're not. As a single medical student, your cost of attendance loan will cover your living expenses and if it doesn't, you're doing something wrong. If you're married with several kids, I could understand, but most med students are single. If they can't get by on their loans, that's a problem.
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I used WIC so obviously I have kids...
 
Just my 2 cents, you know that you will be in debt when you apply to medical school, nobody put a gun to your head. You cannot expect the society to pay for you when you are in school, thats what loans are for. Its not illegal to take advantage of the welfare system, its morally wrong in my humble opinion. If you want free tuition and stipend for medical school, you are welcomed to join the military.
 
Ultimax said:
Just my 2 cents, you know that you will be in debt when you apply to medical school, nobody put a gun to your head. You cannot expect the society to pay for you when you are in school, thats what loans are for. Its not illegal to take advantage of the welfare system, its morally wrong in my humble opinion. If you want free tuition and stipend for medical school, you are welcomed to join the military.
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Puhlease.
There are strict criteria to get any sort of welfare with lots of hoops to jump through. The person is paying into the system. OP can make their own moral determinations.
Also society is subsidizing your education. are you sure you want to take advantage of society just going to medical school?
 
We have medicaid for my son and qualify for WIC and food stamps but we didn't accept them. I was not eligible for medicaid because Missouri did not expand their programs so we are paying a fortune for insurance I don't even really use.
 
libertyyne said:
Puhlease.
There are strict criteria to get any sort of welfare with lots of hoops to jump through. The person is paying into the system. OP can make their own moral determinations.
Also society is subsidizing your education. are you sure you want to take advantage of society just going to medical school?
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Exactly. I do think if you are a single person with no dependents then there shouldn't be a need to use these programs. Kids and spouse? No reason they need to suffer more than your inevitable absence will already contribute. Those with kids should utiliize the programs and will likely contribute much more than they took out while improving the situation of those around them. Anyone who decries this probably just decries all sorts of welfare and they'll demonize you no matter what your situation is. F'em.
 
I'm on medicaid. Figured it'd be better to get on medicaid for free, which I don't use, to meet my mandatory insurance requirements than to take out more loans to pay for health insurance that I won't use to meet my mandatory insurance requirements. I turned down the snap even tho offered it.
 
Mass Effect said:
Actually, they're not. As a single medical student, your cost of attendance loan will cover your living expenses and if it doesn't, you're doing something wrong. If you're married with several kids, I could understand, but most med students are single. If they can't get by on their loans, that's a problem.
Click to expand...

Single medical students without dependents don’t qualify for WIC, SNAP, or energy subsidy help.
 
Ultimax said:
Just my 2 cents, you know that you will be in debt when you apply to medical school, nobody put a gun to your head. You cannot expect the society to pay for you when you are in school, thats what loans are for. Its not illegal to take advantage of the welfare system, its morally wrong in my humble opinion. If you want free tuition and stipend for medical school, you are welcomed to join the military.
Click to expand...

If OP qualifies for these programs, he or she should utilize it. Let make one thing clear bc there are a lot of loud mouths who rant about people taking advantage of these programs without knowing the qualifications. You have to have kids, not just a spouse to qualify for these programs. Student loans don’t cover for extra expenses from having a family.

While nobody puts a gun to OP head for attending medical school, his or her children shouldn’t be suffering when there are social programs just for them like the ones listed above, considering that OP will be paying into the program in excess as an attending.
 
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nimbus said:
My unemployed millionaire Trump loving brother who lives in the house in which we grew up had the thermostat turned up to 75 when I visited a couple of Christmas’s ago. I asked isn’t your gas bill hundreds of dollars? He replied that he only pays $30 regardless of how much gas he uses because he is enrolled in a low income energy program. Our system is truly f’d up. He’s the poster boy for why we need a wealth tax.
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Your unemployed millionaire brother is committing fraud then bc I am very certain that these programs ask for total assets like stocks, bonds, owned houses, and checking accounts.

DHS can’t check these things and your brother probably lied on his application.
 
Epilepsy365 said:
If OP qualifies for these programs, he or she should utilize it. Let make one thing here bc there are a lot of loud mouths who rant about people taking advantage of these programs without knowing the qualifications. You have to have kids, not just a spouse to qualify for these programs. Student loans don’t cover for extra expenses from having a family.

While nobody puts a gun to OP head for attending medical school, his or her children shouldn’t be suffering when there are social programs just for them like the ones listed above, considering that OP will be paying into the program in excess as an attending.
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I know the rules and chilcare is an allowable loan increase so the spouse can work
 
sb247 said:
I know the rules and chilcare is an allowable loan increase so the spouse can work
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What about single med students with kids?

What about couple with multiple kids? If you know the rules, then you would know that there is only a limit to a loan increase to childcare like 1K per term, with about $800 in childcare cost per month for each kid.

Save your talk dude.
 
Epilepsy365 said:
Your unemployed millionaire brother is committing fraud then bc I am very certain that these programs ask for total assets like stocks, bonds, owned houses, and checking accounts.

DHS can’t check these things and your brother probably lied on his application.
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They only ask about income, not assets. I’m sure there are plenty of frugal millionaires doing the same thing. Heck billionaire seniors still qualify for Medicare.

 
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OP, take advantage of whatever program you can enjoy.

Such a ridiculous system that the only way to improve on it is to destroy it.
 
Epilepsy365 said:
What about single med students with kids?

What about couple with multiple kids? If you know the rules, then you would know that there is only a limit to a loan increase to childcare like 1K per term, with about $800 in childcare cost per month for each kid.

Save your talk dude.
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that's not a fafsa rule that I've seen (and I read them) unless it changed...link?
 
sb247 said:
that's not a fafsa rule that I've seen (and I read them) unless it changed...link?
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There is no Fafsa rule with regards to student loan for childcare. It’s dependent upon the institution but I was given only 50% of childcare cost up to a certain amount per term by my finaid office.
 
Epilepsy365 said:
There is no Fafsa rule with regards to student loan for childcare. It’s dependent upon the institution but I was given only 50% of childcare cost up to a certain amount per term by my finaid office.
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so you retract the below statement then?
Epilepsy365 said:
What about single med students with kids?

What about couple with multiple kids? If you know the rules, then you would know that there is only a limit to a loan increase to childcare like 1K per term, with about $800 in childcare cost per month for each kid.

Save your talk dude.
Click to expand...
 
sb247 said:
so you retract the below statement then?
Click to expand...

No I’m not. You’re implying that you can get unlimited student loan for childcare cost and I’m telling you that it’s not how it works.

Childcare cost is about $800-1K per kid per month and the student loan limit doesn’t even cover for the majority of it. Then, you’re telling us that it’s totally reasonable for parents to take out student loans assuming max possible coverage for these costs just for the sake of working just to pay back the student loan while discounting zero value to the net utility that the spouse provides as a caretaker of multiple kids and not accounting into the net negative in the family utility for the time away from the parents and kids.

My point is that it’s pretty damn hard to qualify for these benefits in the first place unless you have kids under a certain age. These programs aren’t perfect and fallible to abuse but it’s ridiculous to scrutinize our people that will be paying back in excess to the system when the original purpose of these programs was to provide the temporary bridge for these folks.
 
Epilepsy365 said:
No I’m not. You’re implying that you can get unlimited student loan for childcare cost and I’m telling you that it’s not how it works.

Childcare cost is about $800-1K per kid per month and the student loan limit doesn’t even cover for the majority of it. Then, you’re telling us that it’s totally reasonable for parents to take out student loans assuming max possible coverage for these costs just for the sake of working just to pay back the student loan while discounting zero value to the net utility that the spouse provides as a caretaker of multiple kids and not accounting into the net negative in the family utility for the time away from the parents and kids.

My point is that it’s pretty damn hard to qualify for these benefits in the first place unless you have kids under a certain age. These programs aren’t perfect and fallible to abuse but it’s ridiculous to scrutinize our people that will be paying back in excess to the system when the original purpose of these programs was to provide these temporary bridge for these folks.
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I'm absolutely saying parents qualify for the cost of childcare....because they literally do. You just went to a school that didn't want to allow you access, but it was there.

And yeah, I'm saying parents should pay for their kids expenses
 
Epilepsy365 said:
where do these frugal millionaires getting their income? Either they’re hiding them in their Roth accounts or not reporting the passive income accumulated in their brokerage accounts.
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His assets are not income until he sells it. He only sells enough of his assets to live on which keeps his income low. He actually has 3 kids but they go to public school, he and his wife drive a Kia and a Honda, and his house is paid off. He doesn’t hide anything.
 
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take whatever credits you can get my dude.. the programs are there for people in our situation. You’ll be paying back far more than you take out for help. Besides, the taxpayers are subsidizing it either way if it’s student loans or government programs.
 
I can take out additional loans and pay $3k/year for my school health insurance. However, even though I plan on doing IBR, so I'll be paying the same each way, I'm still going to choose medicaid, as there is a $0 deductible (as opposed to $2000 with insurance) and no co insurance, as providers are not allowed to charge medicaid patients if they take medicaid. Also hope it will be good experience in shaping my view of healthcare
 
Magyarzorag said:
I can take out additional loans and pay $3k/year for my school health insurance. However, even though I plan on doing IBR, so I'll be paying the same each way, I'm still going to choose medicaid, as there is a $0 deductible (as opposed to $2000 with insurance) and no co insurance, as providers are not allowed to charge medicaid patients if they take medicaid. Also hope it will be good experience in shaping my view of healthcare
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It will be a great eye opener. When i had medicaid i was refused care all over the place.
 
ciestar said:
It will be a great eye opener. When i had medicaid i was refused care all over the place.
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internetcat said:
Prepare to be extremely disappointed with the providers available to you as a Medicaid patient... speaking from experience. I’m talking about scraping the very very bottom of the barrel.
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It totally depends on the state. We have had great options and providers on Medicaid in a few states in the Midwest.
 
internetcat said:
In my state Medicaid pays a starvation wage. Only foreign graduates or American-trained doctors with the most checkered past who indulge in ‘fraud-lite’ will accept it.
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When i had it, plenty accepted but they had a limit on how many a year they’d take.
 
Lots of fields expect to take Medicaid. Basically all of pediatrics. . . . . Lots of areas have to take it because of the patient mix.

They have weird rules compared to the Medicare/advantage Medicare plans.
They don't pay for SNF, but will pay for rehab and transportation.
 
Epilepsy365 said:
Your unemployed millionaire brother is committing fraud then bc I am very certain that these programs ask for total assets like stocks, bonds, owned houses, and checking accounts.

DHS can’t check these things and your brother probably lied on his application.
Click to expand...

I looked at the applications for medicaid and Energy Assistance in Ohio and none of them ask for assets. Nor can I find an asset limit. For SNAP, there is an asset limit of $2000 I believe 🙁
 
Magyarzorag said:
I looked at the applications for medicaid and Energy Assistance in Ohio and none of them ask for assets. Nor can I find an asset limit. For SNAP, there is an asset limit of $2000 I believe 🙁
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Well luckily I have like -$100k in assets 😉... pretty sure it is more nuanced than just $2k in any type of asset. I think it is typically $2000 in cash
 
This thread got me reading. At least in Texas, there is a distinction between eligibility for long term care. To qualify for long term care, $2k in assets, a car, and a fairly substantial home equity.

My google foo isn't working for the regular Medicaid. All I see in income requirements.
 
NITRAS said:
This thread got me reading. At least in Texas, there is a distinction between eligibility for long term care. To qualify for long term care, $2k in assets, a car, and a fairly substantial home equity.

My google foo isn't working for the regular Medicaid. All I see in income requirements.
Click to expand...

Yeah, for long term care for those who already have medicare, they always check assets
 
Our medical school recommends students who cannot be on their parents insurance to go into medicaid over the school provided insurance. So I was on Medicaid during med school.
 
Going to take full advantage of medical assistance as I have been on it for the majority of my life.

Now when they ask about assets...I definitely have only $500 in my bank account haha!
 
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