Unique Cardinal Care Enrollment Situations
Learn about unique Cardinal Care enrollment situations, such as leaves of absence or degrees conferred off cycle.
Cardinal Care and Leaves of Absence
If you are covered by Cardinal Care and contemplate taking a leave of absence (LOA) at any point in your academic career, be sure to contact Vaden Health Center’s Insurance and Referral Office for guidance about coverage, in advance, if possible. As you’ll see below, timing can be a driver as to whether coverage will be preserved.
A student enrolled in Cardinal Care who is granted an LOA in Autumn Quarter for which the effective date of the leave is prior to the first day of class will not be charged tuition or any associated fees for the quarter. Upon reversal of the tuition, the student’s eligibility for enrollment in Cardinal Care will be canceled retroactive to September 1. (The student’s eligibility for enrollment in Cardinal Care will resume upon return to the university and reinstatement of tuition.)
A student enrolled in Cardinal Care who is granted an LOA in Autumn Quarter for which the effective date of the leave is on or after the first day of class such that (prorated) tuition and associated fees for the quarter are charged will remain enrolled through the end of the plan year (August 31) and applicable fees will apply.
A student who is enrolled in Cardinal Care as of Autumn Quarter, and who is granted an LOA for a subsequent quarter (i.e., Winter, Spring, or Summer) will remain enrolled in and covered by Cardinal Care through the end of the plan year (August 31) and applicable fees will apply.
A student who enters to the university in Winter Quarter or Spring Quarter, and who is subsequently granted an LOA for the entry quarter, will be subject to the same guiding principles as a student who enters in Autumn Quarter, i.e., if the effective date of the leave is prior to the first day of class, tuition and any associated fees for the quarter will be reversed. Upon reversal of the tuition, the student’s eligibility for enrollment in Cardinal Care will be canceled retroactively to the start of the applicable coverage period (January 1 for Winter Quarter entry students and April 1 for Spring Quarter entry students). If the effective date of the leave is on or after the first day of class but before the respective term withdrawal deadline, the student will be charged (prorated) tuition and associated fees for the quarter after confirmation of attendance in classes, or participation in units, by the Office of the University Registrar. If enrolled in Cardinal Care, the student will remain enrolled through the end of the plan year (August 31) and applicable fees will apply.
Important to Note
Students on an LOA which crosses into a subsequent plan year, i.e., into September of the next academic year, will not be eligible to enroll in the Cardinal Care student health Insurance plan until they return and register in a future quarter such that a tuition charge posts.
Cardinal Care If You Confer Your Degree (Off Cycle)
Cardinal Care is an annual plan—that is, regardless of your quarter of entry or return, if you do not take steps to opt out of Cardinal Care by the applicable deadline you’ll have coverage starting in your entry quarter and running through the end of the plan year, i.e., August 31. You will be charged accordingly.
The one exception to this rule applies to students who graduate at the end of Autumn Quarter or Winter Quarter. Students who plan to end their relationship with the University, through conferral of a terminal degree at the end of Autumn Quarter or Winter Quarter, may request to be taken off the plan at the end of the corresponding Cardinal Care coverage period; December 31 for Autumn Quarter graduates and April 30 for Winter Quarter graduates. To initiate a request, you must complete the Petition for Early Cancellation of Cardinal Care Health Insurance form and submit it to Vaden Health Center’s Insurance and Referral Office by the applicable deadline; December 15 for Autumn Quarter graduates and April 15 for Winter Quarter graduates. Petition submission deadlines are strictly enforced.
Students who graduate at the end of Spring Quarter do not have the option to leave the plan early, and coverage remains in effect through August 31.
2024–2025 Cardinal Care Cost and Coverage Options Based on Quarter of Graduation
| Quarter Graduating | Cardinal Care Coverage Period | Total Cost | Autumn Quarter | Winter Quarter | Spring Quarter | Summer Quarter | Petition Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Quarter | Sep 1 – Dec 31 (4 months) | $2,540 | Charge on bill | Petition must be received by Dec 15— no exceptions. | |||
| $2,540 | |||||||
| Maximum grad subsidy | |||||||
| $2,540 | |||||||
| Winter Quarter | Sep 1 – Apr 30 (8 months) | $5,080 | Charge on bill | Petition must be received by April 15— no exceptions. | |||
| $2,540 | $2,540 | ||||||
| Maximum grad subsidy | |||||||
| $2,540 | $2,540 | ||||||
| Spring Quarter or Summer Quarter (same as annual) | Sep 1 – Aug 31 (12 months) | $7,620 | Charge on bill | There is no option to exit the plan early for Spring Quarter or Summer Quarter graduates. | |||
| $2,540 | $2,540 | $2,540 | $0 | ||||
| Maximum grad subsidy | |||||||
| $2,540 | $2,540 | $2,540 | $2,540 | ||||
If You Want Your Coverage to Continue…
Students enrolled in Cardinal Care who confer a degree at the end of Autumn Quarter or Winter Quarter and who wish to continue coverage do not need to take any action to stay in Cardinal Care through the end of the plan year (August 31).
Additional Health Insurance Considerations for Visiting Student Researchers (and other non-matriculated students)
Visiting Student Researchers are automatically enrolled in Cardinal Care and must follow instructions to acknowledge the Cardinal Care Enrollment Policy. After completing the Cardinal Care Enrollment Policy in Axess, VSRs can submit a waiver request if they so choose through the process outlined here.
Because VSR appointments start throughout the academic year, the timing of the being able to acknowledge the Cardinal Care Enrollment Policy in Axess, and submitting a waiver request may differ compared to a student enrolled in a degree program at Stanford University.
VSRs may experience the following due to the timing of their appointment start date:
- Inability to view or acknowledge the Cardinal Care Enrollment Policy in Axess until their appointment start date
- Denied access to waiver portal through Aetna/Academic Health Plans until their appointment has started AND their SUNet has been created
VSRs will still have an opportunity to submit a waiver request during the month their appointment starts at Stanford, even if it is after their entry quarter waiver deadline.
For example:
If a VSR appointment begins on April 1, they will be automatically enrolled in Cardinal Care with the start of the Spring Quarter insurance billing period. Since the VSR appointment begins after the March 15 Spring Quarter entry student waiver deadline, the VSR will still be allowed to submit a request to waive Cardinal Care during the month their appointment begins (April).
Waiver requests will still be reviewed to confirm that the alternative policy meets minimum waiver requirements set by Stanford University (VSRs are only required to maintain health insurance coverage for the length of their appointment at Stanford).
VSRs visiting with a J-1 visa must also meet health insurance requirements set by the Department of State.
Additional questions can be directed to the Vaden Insurance and Referrals Office through Service Now ticket.
