Stanford Health Insurance - Billing Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions about Stanford health insurance billing:

• How is health insurance billed at Stanford?
• Why am I still being charged a health insurance fee when I have already waived it?
• Why am I being charged the Campus Health Service Fee (CHSF), if I have already waived my health insurance? 
• Why am I being charged a health insurance fee when I took a Leave of Absence?
• Why am I being charged a health insurance fee when I graduated?

How is health insurance billed at Stanford?

The annual plan, which runs from September 1 through August 31, includes coverage in summer quarter (whether you are registered that quarter or not). The annual fee is billed over three quarters for four quarters of coverage. 

For more information about the charges you will see on your account, please review the Vaden Health Center Cost & Coverage Dates page. 

Why am I still being charged a health insurance fee when I have already waived it?

Waiving health insurance does not remove the fee from your student account, instead it produces a credit on your account to offset the amount. 

• Once your health insurance waiver has been processed a credit will appear on your account. 
• If a waiver is not posted to your bill, check your Current Activity in Stanford ePay.  Current Activity lists transactions that have posted to your account since your last bill. 
• You can also check your Student page in Axess to see if the Health Insurance "To Do" is still showing as incomplete.

For more information about Cardinal Care, the university sponsored health insurance, and for information about retaining or waiving student health insurance, please review the Vaden Health Center website.  

Why am I being charged the Campus Health Service Fee (CHSF), if I have already waived my health insurance?

The Campus Health Service Fee ("Health Fee") is a quarterly fee that is mandatory for all undergraduate and graduate students enrolled on the Stanford main campus, including visiting student researchers and students who participate in high school summer programs that result in course credit at Stanford.

Review the Vaden Health Center website, for more information about

• the Campus Health Service Fee
• the difference between Health insurance and the Campus Health Service Fee

Why am I being charged a health insurance fee when I took a Leave of Absence?

If you are covered by Cardinal Care and plan to take a Leave of Absence, be sure to contact Vaden’s Insurance and Referral Office for guidance about coverage. The timing of your Leave of Absence can determine whether you will continue to have coverage (and whether you will be charged) for the remainder of the enrollment year. In general, because Cardinal Care is an annual plan, if you are covered by Cardinal Care during Autumn quarter, you will remain enrolled for the remainder of the plan year.

Why am I still being charged a health insurance fee after I graduated?

Cardinal Care is an annual plan. If you choose to remain enrolled in Cardinal Care during your open enrollment period (driven by when you enter the university), you will be covered through August 31.

If you plan to graduate at the end of Autumn or Winter Quarter and do not wish to continue your coverage, you must petition to end your coverage early. The Petition needs to be submitted no later than December 15 (for Autumn Quarter degree conferral), in which case coverage will end on December 31, or no later than April 15 (for Winter Quarter degree conferral) in which case coverage will end April 30.

Related Questions or Resources

• Entrance Health Requirements
• Student Health Insurance - Vaden Health Center
• Stanford Bulletin - Fees Policy