Fl University Took $12,000 For Health Insurance And Never Provided It.

Location: Florida

I live in SC and attended graduate school online in FL for clinical mental health counseling. I was required to buy health insurance through the university. The cost was bundled into my tuition. I paid this university $11,939 for health insurance. My first semester I attempted to print off my insurance card from the company’s website and was informed I had no policy. Twice I had to seek emergency medical care and was told I had no active policy. I reached out to the university and received no answers.

In addition, several times after paying my tuition in full during the first week of class, holds were placed on my account and hundreds of dollars in extra fees were charged to my account. I was threatened with expulsion from the program if I didn’t pay the added fees. No one would explain what these fees were or why they were added after full tuition was paid.

I was originally set to graduate in December, 2025. One month before graduation my advisor informed me I had one more class to take. I was told if I didn’t take this class I couldn’t pass my CPCE exam to graduate. I had already taken and passed the exam, with my second highest score in the domain of the class I didn’t take. The university still refused to work with me, however, an attorney offered, in writing, that the university would cover the tuition for that class. After I started the class the university rescinded their offer and refused to give me my diploma until I paid.

I sent dozens of emails and all were ignored. About a month ago I sent a demand letter to the legal department asking for proof of remittance for my policy, an explanation for the excess fees, and for the university to honor the written agreement to cover the tuition for the last class. At first I got an email telling me they were getting the information for me and to be patient. Then, an attorney emailed me and admitted they had no proof or accounting records that could prove the almost $12,000 I gave them for health insurance actually went to insurance. He then sent me a medical records release form and stated that he needed access to my medical records as that was the only way the university could provide me with proof my money went to insurance. I declined and said that my private medical records aren’t necessary for the university to show me proof of remittance and that I have the legal right to access my student account ledger via FERPA. He sent a nasty response to me and said the university was rejecting my demands and would no longer be entertaining my requests.

This university also falsely reported me to the federal government as a dropout causing me to lose my federal financial aid while continuing to charge me full semester fees during the time I wasn’t actively enrolled in classes (because I was waiting on a practicum placement).

I think I overpaid this university by THOUSANDS. I don’t believe they remitted my money for insurance and I don’t know what to do now. Their actions cost me my post grad job, apartment, and ruined my and my family’s ability to attend my graduation. As a first generation college student, that was especially difficult.

What can I do?