2008 Woodie Awards
Students debate insurance options
Clarisa Barnes
Issue date: 2/2/06 Section: News
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College students typically have three options when it comes to health insurance: get coverage through parents, buy their own policies or go without it.
Kyle Heftka, a junior from Chattanooga, said he has good health benefits through his mom, who works for the city as a librarian.
Under her policy, Heftka said he is covered until age 24.
Heftka said that looking into his own insurance plan is not a top priority right now.
"That's a couple of years away, so I haven't thought about it too much," he said.
Holly Hurst, a sophomore from Nashville, said she has given thought to getting her own insurance.
"The careers I'm looking at don't usually offer insurance [for employees]," Hurst said.
The political science student said she wants to be a campaign manager, but the career typically requires that individuals insure themselves versus being insured by their place of employment.
State Farm Insurance agent Jeff Greeson said that the best place to get insurance is through a person's employmer.
Students typically cannot get those benefits, Greeson said, because most of them work part time.
"[Prior to getting benefits] is the window of time [State Farm] is trying to protect students," Greeson said. His company offers student health plans.
At State Farm, policies for students cost about $56 a month and have a $2,500 deductible, which limits the student's losses to $2,500.
After the deductible is met, State Farm begins covering the expenses.
"When you're going to college and wanting to prepare for a better life later on ... if you don't have health insurance, you can compromise everything financially by accumulating thousands of dollars in health expenses," Greeson said.
Hurst agreed with Greeson, and said you have to have insurance because prescriptions, hospital stays and doctor visits are expensive.
She said that she has already spent her $250 deductibile this year.
Kyle Heftka, a junior from Chattanooga, said he has good health benefits through his mom, who works for the city as a librarian.
Under her policy, Heftka said he is covered until age 24.
Heftka said that looking into his own insurance plan is not a top priority right now.
"That's a couple of years away, so I haven't thought about it too much," he said.
Holly Hurst, a sophomore from Nashville, said she has given thought to getting her own insurance.
"The careers I'm looking at don't usually offer insurance [for employees]," Hurst said.
The political science student said she wants to be a campaign manager, but the career typically requires that individuals insure themselves versus being insured by their place of employment.
State Farm Insurance agent Jeff Greeson said that the best place to get insurance is through a person's employmer.
Students typically cannot get those benefits, Greeson said, because most of them work part time.
"[Prior to getting benefits] is the window of time [State Farm] is trying to protect students," Greeson said. His company offers student health plans.
At State Farm, policies for students cost about $56 a month and have a $2,500 deductible, which limits the student's losses to $2,500.
After the deductible is met, State Farm begins covering the expenses.
"When you're going to college and wanting to prepare for a better life later on ... if you don't have health insurance, you can compromise everything financially by accumulating thousands of dollars in health expenses," Greeson said.
Hurst agreed with Greeson, and said you have to have insurance because prescriptions, hospital stays and doctor visits are expensive.
She said that she has already spent her $250 deductibile this year.
