How Do I Use My Insurance for Therapy?
You can contact your insurance plan directly to request details of your coverage and referral options. Info on this page can help you do this.

I Have Cardinal Care Insurance
Aetna is the insurer for Stanford Student Cardinal Care. Mental health services are covered with a $25 copay for visits if you see an in-network provider. There is no reimbursement for out-of-network providers. You do not need a referral to see a therapist or psychiatrist.
Locally and in California
Most students find it easiest to use web-based search tools provided on this site to find a local therapist who accepts Cardinal Care (Aetna). You can enter Aetna or Aetna Student Health as the insurance in any web search tools. For local searches, Welltrack Connect has partnered with CAPS to build up the Cardinal Care (Aetna/Aetna Student Health) provider base. On the Welltrack Connect site you can get detailed info about providers and send messages directly to them. We recommend on the site that under insurance, you check all three boxes: Aetna, Aetna Student Health, and Stanford Cardinal Care Aetna to get the most results and options.
Contacting Aetna Student Health Customer Service at 888.834.4708 provides direct assistance with referrals in your local zip code. If you contact Aetna directly using the support line, please complete the online contact form here to give us feedback on your experience. We want to be sure you are receiving the referrals you need.
You can also search for providers directly on the Aetna Website here. We recommend checking out this Decoding Mental Health Provider List — this will help you reduce confusion as you review lists of in-network providers and decide whom to call for an appointment.
Out of State
Your Cardinal Care plan is Aetna and it is a national plan. Find providers anywhere in the United States by searching here, or by calling Aetna Student Health Customer Service at 888.834.4708 and asking for a list of providers in the zip code where you will be.
International Needs and Cardinal Care
Cardinal Care has a program called International On Call. the On Call number is on the Aetna/Cardinal Care card, and listed below:
- Toll free from US: 866.525.1956.
- International: 00.1.603.328.1956.
On Call can help the student find a psychiatrist. The provider may require payment up front, and you ca submit claims and be reimbursed at Tier 2 benefit level.
I Have Different Insurance
This is a general guide for students with non-Cardinal Care insurance who need assistance understanding their mental health benefits and obtaining referrals. If you want more help, CAPS offers personalized Referral Coordination services, described at the bottom of this page.
Please note, each insurance company has its own system in place, but the procedure to obtaining referrals is common to many insurance plans. If you are not sure what benefits you have under your plan, we have made some guidelines to help you get that information.
If you already know your benefits and are seeking providers who take your insurance, you can search Welltrack Connect as well as other sites under Options for Care Outside of CAPS, to find local providers who accept your Insurance. Just check the box for your insurance and location, and click "search"
Instructions
Check below for specific instructions detailing how to:
I Would Like Additional Assistance Navigating My Mental Health Benefits
Students with Cardinal Care and other insurances can get referral assistance by calling 650.723.3785 and speaking with the CAPS Front Desk staff. CAPS also has personal Referral Coordination services available to students who do not have Cardinal Care and could benefit from more in-depth personal consultation to find a therapist or psychiatrist outside of CAPS and other relevant resources. If you think you may benefit from referral assistance, call 650.723.3785 and inform the CAPS Front Desk staff about your interest in off-campus referrals.