Health insurance options for full time student

[arcoventry]

I am single, with no dependents. I plan on working part-time while getting my degree - my income will be around $1500 a month, which covers rent, and maybe food/cat food.

I need health insurance, but the options I have seen are out of control expensive. I don't qualify for a lot of the low income programs because I 1) am a sole proprietorship / file schedule C income taxes and 2) my income for 2011-2012 is very high because I am currently working in my full-time job before classes start in August.

Anyone find any workable options?

I will be attending Hunter College and their insurance for students is also on the high side.

[TypeA]

Are you working part-time at your same position? I'm keeping my current job part-time once school starts, and am fortunate in how my employer decided to tackle the transition: I'm having my "effort reduced to half-time" instead of being changed to an hourly-wage employee. This means--at least, where I work--that I get to keep my benefits. Any chance your employer could be persuaded to do something similar?

[arcoventry]

No, unfortunately I am not keeping my employment. I currently work in finance and I am completely cutting ties with the field. I work part time at a restaurant nights and weekends, which is where I intend to contue to get income from when I am in school. However, because it is a small company, they charge more for a much worse plan. I also have to be employed for a year for them to help offset the costs, so it is not an option for me, at least until next winter.