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Resources for international students 2006/07
MEDICAL INSURANCE & HEALTH CARE

While Stanford provides basic health care to registered students mostly without charge, it does not provide hospitalization or specialty care. The latter services are very expensive in the United States, which has no national health service. For this reason, Stanford requires all registered F-1and J-1 students to have medical insurance. Each quarter students are charged a health insurance fee along with the registration fees.

Immigration regulations also require all J-1 students and their dependents to be covered by medical insurance at all times. These regulations obligate the I-Center to cancel the J-1 visa of any student who willfully neglects to obtain medical insurance for themselves or family members. There is no exception to this requirement.

There are a number of different policies that meet the government requirements, including the Stanford Health Insurance Plan (Cardinal Care) administered by Vaden Health Center. The Cardinal Care plan is automatically charged at registration for all students. You may waive this charge via Axess by the first day of class if you already have an equivalent medical insurance coverage from another source.

If you have alternate coverage or if you choose a different plan than the one offered by Stanford, you may complete a waiver form at the time of registration to cancel this charge.

Please note that if you do not select the Cardinal Care plan before the first day of the quarter, you may not enroll in it until the following quarter. THE I-CENTER STRONGLY RECOMMENDS CARDINAL CARE.

More about insurance:

Insurance for Family Members

Stanford’s health insurance plan does not include coverage for accompanying family members. However, as medical care and hospitalization are extraordinarily expensive in the U.S., we urge you to get adequate insurance for any accompanying family members. Nonresidents of the U.S. are not eligible for federal public welfare of any kind including health care. Insurance is the only way to protect yourself and your family members against these high medical costs should you become seriously ill while in the U.S.

• Resource Guide for Dependent Health Insurance provided by Vaden Health Center

Maternity Care

The cost of having a baby in the Palo Alto area is very high, easily $10,000+. Be certain to contact your Health Insurance provider to find out about benefits.

Why alternative insurance plans are offered

Needs vary according to your age, whether you are insuring family members, and whether you desire maternity coverage. At the I-Center there are brochures from other insurance companies which detail alternate health insurance plans. If you have questions concerning these alternate plans, call the phone number printed on each brochure. The I-Center does not endorse any insurance plan and makes no statements about the quality of service you will receive from any insurance carrier.

Selecting the best insurance for you

Study the brochures describing each plan. Check the monthly charge for your age. (The Stanford plan costs the same for any age but other plans can vary in cost according to age.) Consider who you need insurance for: yourself alone, your family, etc. Remember that while the Stanford plan covers domestic partner and spouse, preexisting conditions are not covered. Each policy is different, but all have reliable service records. Consider which coverage you need, then compare monthly costs.

Medical, counseling and dental services in the Stanford area:

Health Promotion Services
at Vaden Health Center educate and support students to help them make informed, healthy decisions about their lifestyle and behavior. Services include help with alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse, nutrition, weight management and body image, sexual assault and harassment and sexual health and relationships.

Medical Referral Services
San Mateo County Medical Association (650) 342-5253 can help you find the health services you may need in this community. They have information on all types of medical services.

Family Planning

  • Planned Parenthood of Mountain View
    225 San Antonio, Mountain View, (650) 948-0807. They offer all methods of contraception, pregnancy tests, examinations, abortions, counseling, prenatal care, pediatric care, and primary care. Fees may be adjusted for low-income patients.

  • Willow Clinic
    795 Willow Road, Bldg. 334, Menlo Park, (650) 599-3890. This center offers a full-range of health care services for adults and children, including: primary care, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, mental health, AIDS care, dental care and pharmacy services. Both English and Spanish-speaking providers are available.

  • Mayview Community Health Center
    270 Grant Avenue, Palo Alto, (650) 327-8717. This clinic offers HIV testing, birth control information, family planning supplies, pregnancy tests, and gynecological examinations, as well as general medical care for children and adults. Fees are based on a sliding scale.

Personal Counseling

  • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
    CAPS is here to help students who experience a wide variety of personal, academic, and relationship concerns. Services (without charge) include: Evaluation and brief counseling, including personal, couples and group therapy. Students requesting or requiring longer, ongoing therapy incur fees. Other services include workshops and groups that focus on students’ social, personal, and academic effectiveness.
    Crisis counseling for urgent situations is available 24 hours a day.

  • Campus Sexual Assault Response and Recovery Team (CSART), 650-725-9955, provide specially trained staff to meet the needs of student survivors of sexual assault

  • The Bridge
    Rogers House, (http://www.stanford.edu/group/bridge/) (650) 723-3392 (24-hour telephone counseling). The Bridge is a drop-in center for students and others who wish to discuss any personal problem in an informal atmosphere with interested and sympathetic people of their own age. The Bridge also offers a crisis intervention service and a variety of informal activities. Drop-in hours are 9 a.m. to midnight, every day during the academic year. The Bridge is closed during the summer session.

  • Family and Children Services
    375 Cambridge Avenue, Palo Alto, (650) 326-6576. This is a community service for individuals and families who are having personal, parental, or marital problems. You may make an appointment to see a professional social worker; fees are arranged on a sliding scale basis.

  • North County Mental Health Clinic
    231 Grant Avenue, Palo Alto, (650) 321-5545. The Clinic is available to Santa Clara County residents for serious psychological problems, evaluation and short-term treatment. The staff has psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers that can see you by appointment only. Fees are on a sliding scale.

Dental Services

To encourage students to meet their dental health needs, Vaden Health Center maintains a list of local dentists who have agreed to give discounts to students. The list of discount dentists and dental insurance information is included in the dental resource packet available at the insurance office on the first floor at Vaden Health Center.

The following two services are generally less expensive than private dentists:

  • Foothill College Dental Hygiene Clinic
    Foothill College , 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, (650) 949-7335
    This Clinic provides low-cost teeth-cleaning and x-ray service or fluoride treatment by dental hygiene students working under professional supervision. It is necessary to have a screening appointment, which is free, before having teeth cleaned or x-rayed (cost approximately $30). Their hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Closed summers. For more information, http://www.foothill.edu/bio/programs/dentalA/

  • School of Dentistry
    University of the Pacific, 2155 Webster Street, San Francisco, (415) 929-6501
    Emergency and general dental care performed by students under close supervision of instructors are offered here. These services cost 30-40% less than when performed by private dentists. Ask about student discounts. Emergency care, or screening for a regular appointment, is offered on a first-come-first-served basis, so it is best to arrive at the clinic early (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.) For more information, http://dental.pacific.edu/