Enroll/Cost

All students, in their first active quarter of each year, will be auto-enrolled in the university-sponsored health insurance plan, Cardinal Care, administered by Wellfleet. Students who have alternate health insurance that provides adequate coverage may waive Cardinal Care, if desired. If you do not waive Cardinal Care coverage by the applicable deadline, you will be enrolled in Cardinal Care health insurance for the remainder of the plan year through August 31, 2026 (with exception for some Autumn or Winter graduating students who petition to come off the plan).

Stanford students who remain enrolled in Cardinal Care are eligible to enroll their spouse and/or child/children in Dependent Care. Students may enroll their spouse and/or child/children in Dependent Care during their first 30 days of matriculation at Stanford. This is the one and only time during a student’s entire academic career at Stanford when a spouse and/or child/children can be enrolled in Dependent Care unless a qualifying event occurs such that another 30-day enrollment window would open.

Students’ dependent(s) may choose to drop Dependent Care coverage for any reason during the policy year, but will not have the option to be re-enrolled unless a Qualifying Life Event occurs.

Cancellation of coverage cannot be backdated.  If you choose to pay via an installment plan, you will be charged 2 months of premium up front.  Once your installment for the month is charged, it cannot be prorated or refunded.  Dependents will be terminated on their paid through date.  Please contact AHP at least 2 months in advance of the desired cancellation date.
 
If premiums are paid in full, you will be refunded for the remaining months.  For example, if your dependent has coverage from 09/01/25 - 08/31/26 and you choose to cancel dependent coverage as of 02/28/26, you will be refunded premiums from 03/01/26 – 08/31/26.  
 
To request cancellation of dependent coverage, please submit the following form to Academic HealthPlans (AHP):