Anyone have HIP Insurance?

Mrs.Dizze

...as in Healthy Indiana Plan?
Just wondering if you've come across any issues with it. I'm a part-time grad student, part-time worker, and part-time self-employed so I sadly need insurance so I'm looking into it.

Any idea how student grants and loans we receive every year affect our income totals? I was told it was factored into total income, but it seemed odd to basically penalize someone for having to deal with student loans to get through school!

earthmuffin

I'm not sure.. however, there is an information line you can call and there is a ton of information on the website. Best of luck! I work and go to school in public health and our healthcare system in the U.S. is a certified hot mess!!! If you have questions never feel silly asking!

mrsmcdonald

I don't know anything about HIP insurance - I just moved to IN five months ago...

I was a grad student ten years ago, so I don't know if things have changed that much, but I NEVER claimed any of my student loans/grants as income. Just as you would never claim a car loan as income....it is a loan, something to be paid back when you're supposedly making enough to pay it back (don't get me started on student loan debt) and a grant is money that does not need to be repaid, so I don't see how either of them could be considered income...where did you hear that from? Maybe I missed something...

Mrs.Dizze

The people on the help line were NOT helpful at all sadly. On the app there is a part that asks. "Tell us if you or family members receive other income from the types listed here."
then "educational income" is listed.

I called and asked and they said it included ALL monies received from a college. I asked how that was possible if I have to pay almost all of it back and she said they take any money coming into your household as income. She said something like they analyze it based on what type it is, but look at everything.

mrsmcdonald

Perhaps you can call back and speak to someone who knows what they are talking about and get further clarification. I still don't get how a loan could be considered income. You might get a better answer from someone else.

It shouldn't be this hard to get insurance. Could you get coverage through your school? They sometimes have options for that, and it might be more affordable. I think the best insurance I had was when I went through the school I was going to.

Mrs.Dizze

Thanks, I think I will call back tomorrow and talk to someone who gives me a final answer. The first time I called it had just started,so maybe they weren't really well informed.

I go to the Academy of Art Univ. in CA via distance ed. so insurance isn't available. Didn't think that one out ahead of time...

jettagurl

I would assume that when they are talking about 'educational income', that would mean anything like a grad assistant-type income.  Loans and grants are not income coming into your home.  Grad assistants receive a stipend, which is income, and some college students have campus jobs for extra money (they ususally pay min. wage.), which would be income.