Dependent Health Insurance
Stanford University offers a cost-effective health insurance plan for students’ spouses, domestic partners and children. It is available for purchase by any Stanford student who is enrolled in Cardinal Care, Stanford's student health insurance plan.
Below is a summary of how the plan works.
- On this page
Cost
Premiums are paid directly to Health Net of California. Monthly premium charges for dependents are as follows:
2011 - 2012 Plan Year |
Monthly premium |
| Spouse or domestic partner | $222.20 |
| Child | $113.30 |
| Children (2 or more) | $202.40 |
| Spouse + child | $335.50 |
| Spouse + children | $424.60 |
2012 - 2013 Plan Year |
Monthly premium |
| Spouse or domestic partner | $240.15 |
| Child | $122.45 |
| Children (2 or more) | $218.75 |
| Spouse + child | $362.60 |
| Spouse + children | $458.90 |
Benefits
The Stanford Student Dependent Health Insurance Plan is a PPO plan administered by Health Net of California. The policy covers pre-existing conditions. The policy year is September 1 through August 31.
The Stanford Student Dependent Health Insurance Plan Brochure outlines highlights of the plan:
Dependent Plan Brochure 2012-2013 (pdf format)
Enrollment
Students may enroll their spouse/domestic partner and children in the Dependent Health Insurance Plan only if they are enrolled in the student plan, Cardinal Care.
Open Enrollment Period - New Students
New students will have the option to enroll their dependents in the Stanford Student Dependent Health Insurance Plan when they first matriculate at Stanford. This is the one and only time during their entire academic career at Stanford when they can purchase the plan for their dependents unless there is a qualifying life event.
Open enrollment guidelines, based on the first quarter of matriculation for a new student, are displayed in the following table:
Quarter |
Open Enrollment period for dependents |
Effective date |
Fall |
30 days past 1st day of quarter in which student is admitted |
based on date of enrollment |
Winter |
30 days past 1st day of quarter in which student is admitted ** |
based on date of enrollment |
Spring |
30 days past 1st day of quarter in which student is admitted |
based on date of enrollment |
Summer |
30 days past 1st day of quarter in which student is admitted |
based on date of enrollment |
* In adherence with the University's winter closure period, Vaden’s Insurance and Referral Office closes in mid to late December each year.
A student's dependent(s) may choose to drop the Dependent plan, but s/he will not have the option to re-enroll unless there is a qualifying life event.
To enroll in the Dependent Health Insurance Plan, please complete the enrollment application and send it to the Vaden Insurance and Referral Office. More details are on the application.
Students may enroll their eligible dependents in the Dependent Health Insurance Plan as long as the student is enrolled in Cardinal Care, the Stanford sponsored student health insurance plan.
Eligible dependents include the Cardinal Care member’s:
• Spouse (unless you are legally separated or divorced)
• Same sex domestic partner (as long as both partners are
age 18 or older and neither partner is married to anyone else)
• Unmarried children until age 26
• Unmarried children over age 26 who are unable to support themselves because of a physical or mental handicap that occurred before age 26
What is a Qualifying Life Event?
A qualifying life event may allow you to enroll your dependent in the Dependent Health Insurance Plan after the open enrollment period. Examples include marriage, birth of a child, and involuntary loss of prior group coverage, to name a few.
FAQ's
Click on a question below to see the answer
Why are you offering a dependent health insurance plan?
Graduate students need coverage for their families. Coverage should be simple to obtain, affordable, free of exclusions for pre-existing conditions and provide security for students' families. We are happy to say that we have been able to develop a dependent insurance plan that meets those needs.
Who is eligible to purchase the Dependent Health Insurance Plan?
Spouses, same-sex domestic partners, and dependent children of students are eligible to enroll in the plan. Students must be enrolled in Cardinal Care, the student health insurance plan, before their dependents can enroll in the Dependent Health Insurance Plan. More details are available under Eligibility.
When and how do I enroll my dependents in the Dependent Health Insurance Plan?
New students will have the option to enroll their dependents in the Stanford Dependent Health Insurance Plan when they first matriculate at Stanford. This is the one and only time during their entire academic career at Stanford when they can purchase the plan for their dependents unless there is a qualifying life event.
Further details are available under Enrollment.
What if I waive Cardinal Care, but want to purchase the Dependent Health Insurance Plan for my spouse / domestic partner?
Students must be enrolled in Cardinal Care before their dependents can enroll in the Dependent Health Insurance Plan.
How will I be billed for the Dependent Health Insurance Plan?
The monthly premium for the Dependent Health Insurance Plan will be paid directly to Health Net. Please complete the Stanford Student Dependent Health Insurance Plan enrollment application and submit it to the Vaden Health Insurance Office.
Why is there only one opportunity to enroll my dependents in the Dependent Health Insurance Plan?
Enrollment restrictions prevent dependents from going on and off the plan. This design provides a measure of financial stability and sustainability of the dependent health insurance plan.
What are examples of qualifying life events?
Some examples include marriage, birth of a child, and involuntary loss of prior group coverage by a spouse/domestic partner or child(ren).
If my dependent has a pre-existing condition, is s(he) eligible to enroll in the Dependent Health Insurance Plan?
Yes. Pre-existing conditions are covered by the Stanford Dependent Health Insurance Plan available to dependents of Stanford students. Students must be enrolled in Cardinal Care before their dependents can enroll in the Dependent Health Insurance Plan.
How has Stanford been able to make dependent health insurance coverage affordable?
To make the plan affordable, the university will be implementing enrollment restrictions designed to keep the number of participants predictable and stable, thereby reducing the adverse selection that caused the previous plan to become unsustainable. After the enrollment period, participants will be able to add the plan only in the case of a major life change, such as the birth of a child. In addition, the university and the student insurance plan are contributing a subsidy. The new plan is also the result of more cost-effective pricing obtained from a new insurance carrier.
Can my dependents who enroll in the dependent plan access services at Vaden Health Center?
Spouses and children covered under the Stanford Dependent Health Insurance Plan are typically non-students and cannot be seen at Vaden. To maximize the benefits under the plan, dependents should utilize a Health Net contracted provider. (Non-contracted provider coverage is also an option, but it typically has higher out-of-pocket associated costs.) Please refer to the dependent plan summary for specific details of coverage. If you need to locate a contracted provider for the dependent plan, please visit the Health Net website.
What if I have additional questions?
If your questions are not answered in our FAQs, please don't hesitate to contact us by submitting a HelpSU ticket.