Cardinal Care

To ensure that international students have sufficient health insurance coverage during their academic career at Stanford, the University will require that all international students enroll in Cardinal Care, the University-sponsored student health insurance plan. This charge will be automatically added to each student’s bill. Click here for an overview on Cardinal Care coverage, benefits, costs, and more. The overview page also provides information on how to apply for Dependent Insurance Coverage for any dependents accompanying you to the U.S.

Waiving Cardinal Care

International students may request to waive the mandatory Cardinal Care policy if they have an alternative health insurance plan that meets or exceeds minimum standards as determined by the University. Information on the waiver form and process is available here.

Health Entrance Requirements

Stanford University requires all enrolled students to have undergone certain physical examinations and vaccinations before entering Stanford. Necessary forms and instructions to complete these requirements are linked here.

For information on other health services and resources available, please visit Vaden Health Center’s website.  You can also view the Vaden Health Center’s 2023-2024 Student Health Matters publication.