Tuition insurance question
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Anonymous
| We plan to enroll DD in private school next year. DH and I can comfortably afford the tuition, but it would be very tight if one of us lost our job, and we each work in a fairly cyclical industry that has had layoffs. So we'd feel more comfortable with tuition insurance. The insurance provider for our top choice school only covers 60% of the unpaid tuition in the event of a job loss. Is that normal? If we're paying for insurance, we'd rather have a greater percentage of the tuition covered. Any suggested providers that provide greater coverage? |
Anonymous
| It's been a few years, but when I looked at tuition insurance when our kid started at a private school, it was difficult to find any individual/retail policies. The provider for our kid's school (and for a number of others in the area) only sold through schools. I don't recall the specific percentage for those policies, but I do believe it's in the 60-70% range. |
Anonymous
| We could only use the insurance provider offered through our school as well, and I think it was in that same range. Maybe as much as 70%. We declined, and I can’t remember exactly how much it covered. |
Anonymous
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it's always about 60-70% and has provisions like you have to attend the first 2 weeks of school to qualify to use the insurance.
I have kids at two different schools. |
Anonymous
| How much do these policies cost? |
Anonymous
| In our experience at 2 different DC privates, it costs around 0.5-1% of annual tuition. It is required at one of our schools unless you select to pay the entire year's tuition up front. I think it's optional at our other school. |
Anonymous
| 60% is standard |
Anonymous
| Agreed. For us, the insurance just doesn't make sense. It doesn't cover enough. |
Anonymous
| Also, at most schools you start paying monthly tuition in April or May on a 10 month plan. So, in order to qualify for an insurance payout, your child has to complete 2 weeks of school which takes you past the September payment which means you have already paid 5 or 6 months of fees plus the deposit and any new student charge (many schools charge $2-2500). That leaves only 4 or 5 monthly payments unpaid if you want to cancel in September, less if you are cancelling later. At a school charging about $48,000 per year, after your initial deposit, your monthly cost is around $3,900. At 60%, you only stand to recoup $2340 per unpaid monthly tuition. |
Anonymous
| Our kid got very sick halfway thru the school year and could no longer attend school. We were grateful that we had the insurance. We needed all of our money for medical care. We never would have predicted needing the insurance for this but unexpected things happen sometimes. |
Anonymous
| We had the same question especially after increased threats to federal jobs. Our school offered enhanced insurance for the 2025/2026 school year. Still only covers 60%, but the benefit (if I understood it correctly, never saw the actual plan), was that the child would not have to withdraw from the school in the event of job loss. Now, with the furlough, the possibility of an extended furlough, and talk of no backpay, I'm wondering if tuition insurance offers any protection and have been told no. I'm curious if others are in the same boat. Seems odd to be able to qualify for unemployment insurance and mortgage forbearance if needed but not have any benefit from tuition insurance or any other relief from the school. Are others having the same experience? It's actually affecting our overall feeling for the school and whether we belong at it. |
Anonymous
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If you can comfortably afford the tuition just put aside extra savings to cover the current school year in case of a job loss. Would you really pull your kids in the middle of the year which is necessary to utilize tuition insurance? I would think most people would tighten up, dip into savings and start looking for a new job. Maybe you would consider not re-enrolling but my first move if DH or I lost our jobs would not be to pull my kids out of their school. I've looked closely at the plan our school offers and I don't think its worth it.
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Anonymous
I'm confused what you think your school should be doing? They're providing the same service they were before the increased threats to feds. The school's costs are still the same and they need to pay their employees. The school is not going to just voluntarily start giving people discounts in the middle of the year. Ask them for an extension or payment plan if you need some short term assistance. Our school has said zero about the fed furloughs and I wouldn't expect it to. |
Anonymous
So there is a shutdown and you want to stop paying tuition? Are you just looking for an excuse? |
Anonymous
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Federal Government shutdowns happen more often than not. Duration varies, but it is unusual for the Federal budget to be passed into law on time. Maybe passed on time by 10/01 only once or twice in the past decade.
People really need to have a minimum of 6 months reserve of cash. If necessary cut expenses sharply until that emergency reserve is in place. |