Using Your Own Health Insurance

Issues to consider if you want to use your own insurance

Health insurance plans vary in the coverage they offer. The Comparison Worksheet (PDF format) will help you “do your homework” about Cardinal Care, your family health insurance policy or any other plan you might consider.

We provide this so you can make the best decision to protect your student’s health while being cognizant of your finances. To ensure that your selection provides adequate coverage for your student’s anticipated and unanticipated health care needs, please note our recommendations (see astericks * in the PDF).

Many managed health care plans provide only for emergency care outside their local service area. Check your policy carefully before completing the waiver form.

How to waive Cardinal Care and deadlines for waiving

To ensure that you are protected by health insurance, all registered students are automatically enrolled in Cardinal Care at the beginning of each quarter. This ensures that everyone meets the University requirement for all students to have health insurance.

If you choose not to enroll in Cardinal Care and decide to use your own health insurance, you must provide proof of health insurance coverage. To do this, complete the health insurance waiver on Axess at http://axess.stanford.edu.

This must be done before the waiver deadline for each quarter that you want to waive.
You may waive as many quarters in the academic year as you want while on Axess.
A health plan name and group policy number are required to complete the health insurance waiver.

Many managed health care plans provide only for emergency care outside their local service area. Check your policy carefully before completing the waiver form online at http://axess.stanford.edu.