Request a Waiver

If you choose not to participate in Cardinal Care, you'll need to request a waiver from Cardinal Care coverage each academic year by the applicable deadline. If you do not submit your waiver by the applicable deadline, and there is not enough time to process your request, your request for waiver may be denied. It is important you meet the applicable deadlines listed below. 

Once you've submitted the request to waive Cardinal Care coverage, your request will be reviewed. If it is determined that your alternative insurance policy meets the minimum standards for coverage, your request for a waiver will be approved and you will be removed from Cardinal Care coverage. 

If it is determined that your insurance policy does not meet the required minimum standards, your request for a waiver will be declined and you will remain enrolled in Cardinal Care for the remainder of the academic year. 

In either scenario, you will receive an email immediately letting you know that your request for a waiver has been submitted. This is NOT an approval of your request for a waiver. Once a waiver determination is made, you will receive an email notification within 10 business days of your submission with the status of your request.

You may submit a request to waive Cardinal Care coverage during the following waiver periods:

Autumn Quarter Entry (Annual) - 08/15/2024 - 09/15/2024

Winter Quarter Entry (New Students) - 11/25/2024 - 12/15/2024

Spring Quarter Entry (New Students) - 02/25/2025 - 03/15/2025

Summer Quarter Entry (New Students) -  05/20/2025 - 06/15/2025

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 Aetna Student Health. Students who have alternate health insurance that meets minimum requirements 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, 2025 (with exception for some Autumn or Winter graduating students who petition to come off of the plan.) The deadline for submitting a waiver for Summer Quarter Entry is June 15, 2025.

Acceptable Insurance Plans for Domestic Students

Plan must be:

1. A U.S. employer provided group health plan OR
2. Private or individual plan purchased through Healthcare.gov OR
3. Medicare or Medi-Cal plan OR
4. Military/ TRICARE plan

Domestic Student Health Insurance Requirements

Plan must:

1. Provide coverage for the Essential Minimum Benefits as required by the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (PPACA) with no annual or lifetime maximums.
2. Contain no exclusions or waiting periods for pre-existing conditions.
3. Cover 100% of Preventive Care as defined by the PPACA.
4. Offer prescription drug coverage.
5. Offer coverage for non-emergency as well as emergency care.
6. Have an annual deductible of $1,000 USD or less. (This requirement does not apply to employer plans.)
7. Cover inpatient and outpatient medical care in the San Francisco Bay Area (with strong preference for access to providers at Stanford University Medical Center if you will be studying in the Stanford vicinity.)
8. Covers inpatient and outpatient mental health care in the San Francisco Bay Area (with strong preference for access to Stanford University Medical Center and/or Sutter Health providers).
9. Cover the entire academic year (September 1 through August 31). You may not have gaps in coverage.

Acceptable Insurance Plans for International Students

1. U.S. government sponsored, foreign government sponsored, or Embassy plan OR
2. U.S. employer provided group health plan OR
3. Private or individual plan purchased through Healthcare.gov OR
4. Medicare or Medi-Cal plan OR
5. Military/TRICARE plan

International Student Health Insurance Requirements

1. Plan must provide coverage for the Essential Minimum Benefits as required by the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (PPACA) with no annual or lifetime maximums.
2. Contains no exclusions or waiting periods for pre-existing conditions.
3. Covers 100% of Preventative Care as defined by the PPACA.
4. Offers prescription drug coverage.
5. Offers coverage for non-emergency as well as emergency care.
6. Has an annual deductible of $1,000 USD or less. (This requirement does not apply to employer plans.) Students holding a J Visa are required to have a $500 deductible or less. (This is in line with the U.S. state department guidelines.)
7. Covers inpatient and outpatient medical care in the San Francisco Bay Area (with strong preference for access to providers at Stanford University Medical Center if you will be studying in the Stanford vicinity.)
8. Covers inpatient and outpatient mental health care in the San Francisco Bay Area (with strong preference for access to Stanford University Medical Center and/or Sutter Health providers).
9. Covers the entire academic year (September 1 through August 31). You may not have gaps in coverage.
10. All policy documentation must be in English and monetary values expressed in U.S. dollars.

You will need to have an electronic copy of health insurance ID card ready to submit with your waiver request.

Your decision to WAIVE lasts the entire Academic Year, so consider it carefully. Review your policy carefully before deciding to waive. Waiving coverage means that you will not be eligible to have insurance through Cardinal Care for the remainder of the academic year unless you have a pre-defined qualifying life event (such as aging out of a parent’s plan at age 26).