The Autumn Quarter waiver deadline has been extended through September 30th.
Insurance & Referral Office
Welcome to the 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 meets Minimum Health Insurance Coverage Requirements established by the university.
Student Health Matters
We are pleased to present Student Health Matters. 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.
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. In 2022-2023, 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. For the upcoming plan year, 2023-2024, all benefits (medical, mental health, and dental) will be administered by Aetna (Aetna Student Health and Aetna PPO Dental)
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
Explore information related to dependent insurance coverage including costs, eligibility, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Insurance
View an FAQ that has been put together by our staff to help answer your questions.
Cardinal Care & Stanford Student Dependent Health Insurance for 2023-2024
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 meets Minimum Health Insurance Coverage Requirements established by the university.