diff --git a/HARK/ConsumptionSaving/ConsGenIncProcessModel.py b/HARK/ConsumptionSaving/ConsGenIncProcessModel.py
index 748e0b1fd..d35f52152 100644
--- a/HARK/ConsumptionSaving/ConsGenIncProcessModel.py
+++ b/HARK/ConsumptionSaving/ConsGenIncProcessModel.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
                            getPercentiles
 from HARK.simulation import drawLognormal, drawDiscrete, drawUniform
 from HARK.ConsumptionSaving.ConsIndShockModel import ConsIndShockSetup, ConsumerSolution, IndShockConsumerType
+import HARK.ConsumptionSaving.ConsumerParameters as Params
 
 utility = CRRAutility
 utilityP = CRRAutilityP
@@ -982,6 +983,10 @@ def __init__(self, cycles=1, time_flow=True, **kwds):
         -------
         None
         '''
+        params = Params.init_explicit_perm_inc.copy()
+        params.update(kwds)
+        kwds = params
+
         # Initialize a basic ConsumerType
         IndShockConsumerType.__init__(self, cycles=cycles, time_flow=time_flow, **kwds)
         self.solveOnePeriod = solveConsGenIncProcess  # idiosyncratic shocks solver with explicit persistent income
@@ -1310,7 +1315,6 @@ def updatepLvlNextFunc(self):
 ###############################################################################
 
 def main():
-    import HARK.ConsumptionSaving.ConsumerParameters as Params
     from HARK.utilities import plotFuncs
     from time import clock
     import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
@@ -1326,7 +1330,7 @@ def mystr(number): return "{:.4f}".format(number)
     print('percentile is ' + str(Params.init_explicit_perm_inc['pLvlPctiles'][-1]*100) + '.\n')
 
     # Make and solve an example "explicit permanent income" consumer with idiosyncratic shocks
-    ExplicitExample = IndShockExplicitPermIncConsumerType(**Params.init_explicit_perm_inc)
+    ExplicitExample = IndShockExplicitPermIncConsumerType()
     t_start = clock()
     ExplicitExample.solve()
     t_end = clock()
diff --git a/HARK/ConsumptionSaving/ConsMedModel.py b/HARK/ConsumptionSaving/ConsMedModel.py
index 75b2502ad..ca1ebedbe 100644
--- a/HARK/ConsumptionSaving/ConsMedModel.py
+++ b/HARK/ConsumptionSaving/ConsMedModel.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 from HARK.ConsumptionSaving.ConsGenIncProcessModel import ConsGenIncProcessSolver,\
                             PersistentShockConsumerType, ValueFunc2D, MargValueFunc2D,\
                             MargMargValueFunc2D, VariableLowerBoundFunc2D
+import HARK.ConsumptionSaving.ConsumerParameters as Params
 from copy import deepcopy
 
 utility_inv   = CRRAutility_inv
@@ -527,6 +528,10 @@ def __init__(self,cycles=1,time_flow=True,**kwds):
         -------
         None
         '''
+        params = Params.init_medical_shocks.copy()
+        params.update(kwds)
+        kwds = params
+
         PersistentShockConsumerType.__init__(self,cycles=cycles,**kwds)
         self.solveOnePeriod = solveConsMedShock # Choose correct solver
         self.addToTimeInv('CRRAmed')
@@ -1361,7 +1366,6 @@ def solveConsMedShock(solution_next,IncomeDstn,MedShkDstn,LivPrb,DiscFac,CRRA,CR
 ###############################################################################
 
 def main():
-    import HARK.ConsumptionSaving.ConsumerParameters as Params
     from HARK.utilities import CRRAutility_inv
     from time import clock
     import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
@@ -1370,7 +1374,7 @@ def main():
     do_simulation = True
 
     # Make and solve an example medical shocks consumer type
-    MedicalExample = MedShockConsumerType(**Params.init_medical_shocks)
+    MedicalExample = MedShockConsumerType()
     t_start = clock()
     MedicalExample.solve()
     t_end = clock()