For Undergraduate Parents
Cardinal Care offers high value, comprehensive health care coverage. But your student may already have coverage under another health insurance plan. You may be quite satisfied with your current plan. Why consider Cardinal Care?
Cardinal Care was created specifically for student community health care needs. Cardinal Care features a unique combination of on-campus primary care with referrals to Stanford Hospital and Clinics and its faculty physicians.
Your current plan may not be as convenient — or cost-effective — anymore. If your student is covered by an HMO or another type of managed care plan — such as a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) — he or she may be required to visit a primary care physician in your local area for all nonemergency care and referrals. For example, that means if your student needs to see a specialist while at school, you may have to pay for this service out of your own pocket.
Cardinal Care covers students anywhere in the world. This global flexibility suits the student lifestyle. Remember, students can purchase coverage year-round, not just during the academic year. When your student goes home during a break, coverage — as well as access to Aetna Open Choice preferred doctors or hospitals — goes along too.
For some, Cardinal Care may be the perfect solution. For others, an employer-based plan may be the most convenient solution. And for some families a combination of Cardinal Care plus your other coverage offers the best option.
We encourage you to evaluate your student's coverage under Cardinal Care and your other health insurance options. Compare what's covered, what's not covered and how each plan operates. Use the benefits summary chart (PDF format) to help you evaluate your student's options and make an informed choice about the health care coverage that's right for him or her. See also Using Your Own Health Insurance.
To help coordinate enrollment with the end of your employer's benefit plan year, your student can join Cardinal Care at the start of any Stanford academic quarter (e.g., January 1). Enrollment continues for each registered quarter that you purchase Cardinal Care.
Once you are enrolled in Cardinal Care as a registered student, you are eligible to purchase continuous coverage as an unregistered student through the remainder of that academic year. You must request unregistered insurance and payment must be made through the Insurance Office at Vaden Health Center prior to the beginning of the unregistered quarter. Enrollment in Cardinal Care is linked to your University registration. When you are not registered, your insurance terminates unless you take action to enroll for the unregistered quarter(s). If you want to be covered during the summer or any other quarter when you’re not enrolled in classes, see How to enroll in Cardinal Care as an unregistered student.
Cardinal Care Information
- Medical and mental health benefits
- Enrollment
- Cost and coverage dates
- For undergraduate parents
- Graduate student subsidy