FOR ALL STUDENTS: Convey Your Health Insurance Decision

The Next Step

Once you have decided whether to remain enrolled in Cardinal Care coverage or to request a waiver, the next step is to take action in Axess. Regardless of your decision, as part of this process, ALL students are required to acknowledge their understanding of the Cardinal Care Enrollment Policy as a Mandatory Health Insurance ‘To Do’ Item in Axess. The Mandatory Health Insurance ‘To Do’ Item typically appears several weeks prior to open course enrollment for your first quarter each academic year. Once you see this ‘To Do’ Item:

Retaining Cardinal Care Coverage

If you are a student who wishes to remain enrolled in health insurance coverage through Cardinal Care, read and acknowledge your understanding of the Cardinal Care Enrollment Policy in Axess. Once you have done so, simply follow the prompts, and you will remain enrolled in Cardinal Care for the applicable plan period. The decision made at the start of the first registered quarter of each academic year (Autumn Quarter for most students), is binding, and coverage will remain in effect through the plan year end (August 31). Exceptions can be made for students who graduate at the end of Autumn or Winter Quarter and successfully petition to end their coverage earlier (deadlines apply), and students who permanently withdraw from the university and submit the petition to end coverage by the applicable deadline.

Waiving Cardinal Care Coverage

If you are a student who wishes to waive health insurance coverage through Cardinal Care, you will also need to read and acknowledge your understanding of the Cardinal Care Enrollment Policy in Axess. Once you have done so, you may follow the prompts to submit a request to waive coverage. 

Through its relationship with Wellfleet, Stanford University partners with Academic HealthPlans (AHP) to administer the waiver process. Students who wish to request a waiver from enrollment in Cardinal Care coverage can go directly from Axess to the AHP website to submit their proof of alternative coverage The coverage submitted (pdf copies of the front and back of the health insurance card, and any other necessary health insurance policy documents) will be assessed to ensure that it is active and that it meets the Minimum Health Insurance Coverage Requirements set by the university.

The decision made at the start of the first registered quarter of each academic year (Autumn Quarter for most students), is binding, and the waiver of coverage will remain in effect through the plan year end (Aug. 31). Note: An enrollment exception exists for students who experience loss of health insurance through a pre-defined qualifying life event and who apply for coverage within 60 days of the event at stanford.mycare26.com/cardinalcare.

Students who wish to submit a waiver request must do so by the waiver deadline of their entry quarter (see next section) each year and should follow the steps below:

• Go to the AHP website (through Axess or directly).
• On the AHP website, click on “Request a Waiver”.
• Review the waiver requirements and use the ‘Click here to submit your waiver request’ box at the bottom of the page.
• Upload pdf copies of both the front and back of your health insurance card.
• Upload any other pertinent health insurance policy documents to support your waiver request.
• AHP will perform a check to make sure the insurance is active and meets the university’s criteria. This process may take up to 10 business days, so do not delay submission of your waiver request!
• If your alternative health insurance plan meets the defined minimum requirements, and your request to waive Cardinal Care coverage is successful, you will be UN-enrolled from Cardinal Care for the 2025–2026 plan year. The corresponding charge on your Axess account will be removed approximately 10 business days after the process is complete. (Be sure to check! This is the best way to confirm that a successful waiver has occurred.)
• If the coverage you submit fails to meet the minimum requirements, your request to waive Cardinal Care will be denied. AHP will notify you of this decision via your Stanford email address. If there is still time before the deadline, you will have a choice to A) secure health insurance coverage that meets the university’s minimum requirements, or B) remain enrolled in Cardinal Care for the applicable plan period.
• If your waiver request is denied, and you want to appeal the decision, please submit a ServiceNow ticket to the Health Insurance and Referral Office:
  • Select the Student Health box.
  • Select question template: Inquire about Cardinal Care/health insurance.