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Going to be attending law school this fall with my wife and young daughter. I was wondering how to best handle the family's health insurance. The school health insurance would run us about $11,000 for the year and we definitely don't have that. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Is your wife working? Does her employer offer health insurance that she can put you on?

That seems pretty steep. Have you looked at your options under the Affordable Care Act? (I'm neither joking nor trying to start a political debate).

That does seem a little high, but not that high. UT is $7800/yr for student+spouse+kid(s); another Texas school with which I'm familiar is $8400 (but an additional $1200 per additional child, whereas UT is the same regardless of number of kids). At the same time, Texas has a better out-of-pocket max ($3000/person/year vs $5000), which for most people doesn't matter, but when it does, it makes a big difference.

Prior to law school (and Obamacare) my only available option was $12,000/year for just me. A risk pool of 18-23 year-olds is pretty plum. I get the feeling that the Academic Health Plans use the fairly high spouse rate to make up for the fact that they're usually undercharging that student (who's more likely to be older than their anticipated pool of undergrads).

It's definitely worth looking into healthcare.gov or your state exchange because as a poor law student you may qualify for subsidies.

Check out the healthcare exchange. $11k/year is highway robbery. That's some TTT shit. I'm on my mom's health insurance (THANKS OBAMA) and it's sitting at $5k/year.

Since you're coming to NY, look into Fidelis. Worked very well for me while I was unemployed.

BVest wrote:That does seem a little high, but not that high. UT is $7800/yr for student+spouse+kid(s); another Texas school with which I'm familiar is $8400 (but an additional $1200 per additional child, whereas UT is the same regardless of number of kids). At the same time, Texas has a better out-of-pocket max ($3000/person/year vs $5000), which for most people doesn't matter, but when it does, it makes a big difference.

Prior to law school (and Obamacare) my only available option was $12,000/year for just me. A risk pool of 18-23 year-olds is pretty plum. I get the feeling that the Academic Health Plans use the fairly high spouse rate to make up for the fact that they're usually undercharging that student (who's more likely to be older than their anticipated pool of undergrads).

It's definitely worth looking into healthcare.gov or your state exchange because as a poor law student you may qualify for subsidies.

The real question is whether his school allows the kind of minimal insurance covered by subsidies. Many schools have strict insurance requirements for mental coverage and things like that, and what you find via healthcare.gov may or may not make it through your school's coverage audit. Be sure to study the requirements closely, because you can get locked out of class registration if the school determines your plan is not up to par.

ymmv wrote:The real question is whether his school allows the kind of minimal insurance covered by subsidies. Many schools have strict insurance requirements for mental coverage and things like that, and what you find via healthcare.gov may or may not make it through your school's coverage audit. Be sure to study the requirements closely, because you can get locked out of class registration if the school determines your plan is not up to par.

Yeah, you do have to check that the alternate plan meets the requirements at Cornell and send in a form with proof in order to opt out of the student insurance plan.

I would image the minimum coverage requirement would only apply to the law student, not his/her family. However, if you receive need based aid that factors in health insurance, then your aid could be affected if you choose to enroll in cheaper coverage.

ymmv wrote:

BVest wrote:That does seem a little high, but not that high. UT is $7800/yr for student+spouse+kid(s); another Texas school with which I'm familiar is $8400 (but an additional $1200 per additional child, whereas UT is the same regardless of number of kids). At the same time, Texas has a better out-of-pocket max ($3000/person/year vs $5000), which for most people doesn't matter, but when it does, it makes a big difference.

Prior to law school (and Obamacare) my only available option was $12,000/year for just me. A risk pool of 18-23 year-olds is pretty plum. I get the feeling that the Academic Health Plans use the fairly high spouse rate to make up for the fact that they're usually undercharging that student (who's more likely to be older than their anticipated pool of undergrads).

It's definitely worth looking into healthcare.gov or your state exchange because as a poor law student you may qualify for subsidies.

The real question is whether his school allows the kind of minimal insurance covered by subsidies. Many schools have strict insurance requirements for mental coverage and things like that, and what you find via healthcare.gov may or may not make it through your school's coverage audit. Be sure to study the requirements closely, because you can get locked out of class registration if the school determines your plan is not up to par.

All of the exchange plans are eligible for subsidies. The subsidy follows the individual and his or her income not the plan.

CounselorNebby wrote:Check out the healthcare exchange. $11k/year is highway robbery. That's some TTT shit. I'm on my mom's health insurance (THANKS OBAMA) and it's sitting at $5k/year.

For just you or for you + spouse + kid (which is what OP is looking at)?

hdunlop wrote:

ymmv wrote: The real question is whether his school allows the kind of minimal insurance covered by subsidies. Many schools have strict insurance requirements for mental coverage and things like that, and what you find via healthcare.gov may or may not make it through your school's coverage audit. Be sure to study the requirements closely, because you can get locked out of class registration if the school determines your plan is not up to par.

All of the exchange plans are eligible for subsidies. The subsidy follows the individual and his or her income not the plan.

This. Plus all of the exchange plans provide what are termed "essential benefits," a list of requirements that includes mental health coverage. I seriously doubt any plan that provides the essential benefits required for exchange plans would fail to meet the requirements of a school.

https://www.healthcare.gov/what-does-ma ... nce-cover/

..

I know this is a little off the topic, but with a wife and kids life will be difficult, I am a rising 3LE working full time and life is brutal, but I am top in my class with a 4.14 GPA (6 A+, 5 As, one A- (bullshit subjectivity in a non anonymous seminar))

My best advice is to schedule time with them, pick a day of the week to go to dinner and focus your attention on them, even if its the weekend before your memo/brief are due in legal writing or its the weekend before finals and your wife or kid's birthday is that day. Your family members are your biggest cheerleaders. I remember sitting at the dining room table with my wife and daughter laptop open having dinner when first memo was due in legal writing. My wife's birthday was the day before my evidence final as well.

Then again I was that guy who had to apply 4 times then took the school by surprise.

As far as insurance goes, check with your school. Mine has a separate family plan for a decent amount, which I will use in 4LE.

Again, do not forget your family, they will carry you. I often opened casebooks and got a big smile when my 4 year old left a sticker inside, but always where there was no text lol.

Good luck starting out.