<p>@Kelsmom–the OP has all expenses covered except for the $1500 mandatory insurance. </p>
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<p>Not necessarily. I have read enough posts from students to know that they are often confused by the COA. They think if they don’t have a combination of aid and EFC to cover the entire COA, they are “short.” In reality, there is often enough padding that they are really not short. If this is the case, the costs - including insurance - may very well be covered.</p>
<p>I only included mandatory fees in my COA. Don’t (and probably won’t) have money for transportation. Also seeing how far I can stretch $600 for books + personal expenses. </p>
<p>And @twoinanddone…how cheap? I’m over 18. The vaccine is about $150 if I pay out of pocket and unless I sell my kidney I just cannot see how on earth I could pay for it. </p>
<p>Ask Vandy how to waive the vaccine requirement. There is probably a form to sign. Then get the vaccine as soon as you are able to afford it.</p>
<p>
Are you sure?</p>
<p>Are you sure that will work, @Palomina? I know you can get vaccines waived for religious and medical reasons, but financial, too?</p>
<p>@4kidsdad, yeah, I’m over 18 so they won’t cover it since it’s an adult immunization</p>
<p>OP: check to see if the vaccine is covered by the VFC program since you appear to be a medicaid-eligible child under age 19.</p>
<p>@girlincross - you’d have to use whatever exemption method the state law allows. There is no financial exemption.</p>
<p>You might have to just have to use a religious waiver. I know it feels unethical but sometimes you are given no choice. I did this when my eldest was entering kindergarten. She was fully immunized but they had a particular cut-off for the last round of shots and D was 3 week too early (we followed the doctor’s schedule and it’s not like the school advertised this cut-off prior to registration.) They actually wanted her to get all 6 of her kindie shots AGAIN. I said “no.” It was religious waiver or her not go to school. I signed the waiver knowing she was fully immunized and it was never an issue again. </p>
<p>There is a way to get a little extra cash if you have a lot of extra time this summer (or dad even.) You might try doing surveys on “Opinon Outpost” or one of the legit survey websites. It’s not exactly fun but I spend a couple hours a week on them for Amazon gift cards and it pays for most our birthday/holiday presents. I have a friend that takes them more seriously and makes a couple hundred a month deposited straight into her bank account (through paypal.) I know, it’s hardly what a teenager wants to do but my kids do them sometimes (through my account… sometimes they want teens) and they don’t mind them. You can PM me if you want some tips. You wouldn’t get enough to pay for the insurance but it could replace some of that text book money if you have to use it for the health insurance.</p>
<p>@girlincross Are you 18 or 19? Are you covered under Medicaid or underinsured? What state do you currently live in?</p>
<p>The Centers for Disease Control has the Vaccines for Children Program which covers children through age 18 in certain circumstances. Do any of the eligibility criteria apply to you (see ‘Underinsured’)</p>
<p>VFC Eligibility Criteria:</p>
<p>Children through 18 years of age who meet at least one of the following criteria are eligible to receive VFC vaccine:</p>
<p>Medicaid eligible: A child who is eligible for the Medicaid program. (For the purposes of the VFC program, the terms “Medicaid-eligible” and “Medicaid-enrolled” are equivalent and refer to children who have health insurance covered by a state Medicaid program)</p>
<p>Uninsured: A child who has no health insurance coverage</p>
<p>American Indian or Alaska Native: As defined by the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603)</p>
<p>Underinsured: A child who has health insurance, but the coverage does not include vaccines; a child whose insurance covers only selected vaccines (VFCeligible for non-covered vaccines only). Underinsured children are eligible to receive VFC vaccine only through a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), or Rural Health Clinic (RHC) or under an approved deputization agreement.</p>
<p><a href=“Vaccines for Children (VFC): Eligibility Criteria | CDC”>http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/providers/eligibility.html</a></p>
<p>Do you have a free clinic, will they give vaccines? </p>
<p>@girlincross: Did you resolve your vaccination issue?</p>
<p>Yep! Went to the health department. 3 hour wait but it was for free 
also, we are paying for the insurance out of pocket. My mom went to nursing school a couple of years ago and still has her books, so I traded all of em in for a $300 Amazon gift card. I dropped out of a Spanish class because the textbooks were too expensive, but other than that by spending little on textbooks as possible, I managed to pull together enough money for the insurance! Super happy. </p>
<p>Excellent! Thank you for the update!</p>
<p>Regarding the Spanish textbook - did you check eBay for a used one? Also, you may be able to use one at the college library. Is this an advanced Spanish course and would you get an added benefit of additional credits for the previous courses that you tested out of?</p>
<p>Is it to late to go to other schools that you were admitted to with better aid?
If it gets to the issue of maximizing Stafford loans and going over to Plus loans, it does not sound too good anymore.
Someone needs to re-access the situation and make changes as necessary.
Best of luck to you.</p>