All students are required to maintain health insurance coverage, either through a private insurance plan or the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).  To this end all students are charged for the SHIP on their fee bill.  If you do not need coverage through the SHIP you can waive the coverage through your account at studentadmin.uconn.edu via the Bursar’s section.  This will remove the charge on your fee bill.  However, if you do require coverage through the SHIP you can submit a request to have your budget adjusted here.  This process informs us you wish to receive coverage and we will increase your budget by the cost of the plan.  You are then eligible to receive additional federal financial aid to cover the cost, either through a direct unsubsidized loan or a graduate PLUS loan, depending on your specific eligibility.

Please be aware The Office of Student Financial Aid Services will be unavailable on July 4th and 5th.  We will return on Monday July 8th at 8AM.  We hope you have a happy and safe holiday.

We want to make you aware of a new program that Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont recently announced called the Connecticut Student Loan Repayment Program. It will offer up to $50,000 in student loan repayments to eligible health care providers who commit to practicing full time in underserved communities in the state for at least two years. Part-time options are also available for $12,500 per year over two years, totaling $25,000. Please note that the deadline to apply is June 30.

 

We are thrilled that the Connecticut Department of Public Health, which oversees the project, and the Connecticut Area Health Education Center, which administrates it, are working hard to link local community groups with the resources of health professionals and health professional training programs. That could be a big step toward alleviating the health care challenges we are facing in our region.

 

Here is part of what Governor Lamont said in his announcement: “This program is a significant investment in our health care workforce and a step towards reducing health disparities across our state. Whether you’re working in underserved areas, critical shortage facilities, or even in educational settings, opportunities are here for these medical professionals to have their student loans forgiven.”

 

Unlike federal loan repayment programs that apply only to federal student loans, this particular program allows for both federal and private student loan debt to be repaid. This makes it a more comprehensive solution for those health care providers with diverse educational debt.

 

Applications will be accepted through June 30. There’s still time, but we all know how fast a month can fly by at this time of year. For more information and to apply, visit ctslrp.org.