Insurance & Referral Office
Stanford University requires that all registered students carry adequate health insurance. This requirement can be met either through Cardinal Care, the university sponsored health insurance plan, or through an alternative insurance plan that has comparable benefits.
Cardinal Care & Stanford Student Dependent Health Insurance for 2022-2023
Stanford University requires that all registered students carry adequate health insurance. This requirement can be met either through Cardinal Care, the university sponsored health insurance plan, or through an alternative insurance plan that has comparable benefits.
We are pleased to present the 2022-2023 edition of Student Health Matters (available via Issuu and PDF), Vaden Health Services' annual publication that provides detailed information about health requirements, how access to Vaden services works, and the importance of having adequate health insurance during your time as a student. We encourage you to view the Student Health Matters booklet as the physical complement of online information on how health insurance works in the United States, the university requirement for health insurance and the health insurance decision you'll need to make each year at the start of your entry quarter.
While Vaden's website contains much of the information referred to in Student Health Matters, the two resources are intended to be complementary, and allows for ease of navigation, either online, or by having the printed booklet with you.
Learn more about services and products Vaden Health Services' Insurance and Referral Office oversees below
Health Insurance Overview
A variety of health care services are available at Vaden Health Center on the Stanford campus and many are covered under the Campus Health Service Fee ('Health Fee'). For the services that Vaden can’t or doesn’t provide, such as emergency care, hospitalization, or care when a student is traveling away from campus, or for those services that are offered at Vaden but not covered under the Health Fee, such as specialty care, physical therapy, or prescriptions, health insurance is needed.
Cardinal Care Overview & Benefits
Cardinal Care, the university sponsored health insurance option, is a comprehensive plan specifically designed for Stanford students. Medical benefits are administered by Health Net of California, mental health benefits are administered by Managed Health Network (MHN), a Health Net company, and dental benefits are administered by Delta Dental of California.
Choosing Your Insurance
Health insurance plans vary in the coverage they offer. Cardinal Care has broad, comprehensive coverage that has worked well for our students in many diverse scenarios over time.
Dental & Vision Insurance Options
Learn about options for dental and vision care, whether you are enrolled in Cardinal Care or not.
Dependent Insurance Coverage
The Stanford Student Dependent Health Insurance Plan is a PPO plan administered by Health Net of California. The policy covers pre-existing conditions. The policy year is September 1 through August 31.
Frequently Asked Questions About Insurance
View an FAQ that has been put together by our staff to help answer your questions.
Come meet us at Vaden Health Center
Our home can be found within the Vaden Health Center, located near Wilbur Field.
• Questions? Contact us at here
• Make an Appointment: Vaden Patient Portal
• Telephone: 650.723.2135
• Hours: Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. PST