Cost if you take SHIP
The 2026-27 premium for the Cardinal Care (Stanford student health insurance) is $8,808 a year (student only). It is billed to your student account unless your waiver is approved.
Annual plan Sep 1, 2026 – Aug 31, 2027 incl. summer. The separate quarterly Campus Health Service Fee is not included. Graduate students may receive a Cardinal Care subsidy.
Waiver deadline
Submit your waiver request before the deadline above. Universities rarely accept late waivers — if you miss it, you are auto-enrolled in SHIP and billed the full premium.
Waiver requirements
According to Stanford University, your alternative plan must meet these criteria (summarised — the official list is binding):
- Meets ACA Minimum Essential Coverage standards
- Covers the entire year Sep 1 – Aug 31 with no gaps
- Inpatient/outpatient medical and mental health care in the SF Bay Area
- Annual out-of-pocket maximum of $10,600 or less
- ACA essential benefits with no annual or lifetime maximums
- 100% preventive care; no pre-existing condition exclusions
Private plans you could submit
These private US student health plans are in our comparison. None is automatically accepted — check the policy maximum, deductible, claims address and the other points above against the plan's terms before you buy:
- ISO Student Health Insurance — from $33/month
- WorldTrips StudentSecure — from $40/month
- Compass Student Insurance — from $43/month
- IMG Patriot Exchange Program
What a waiver can save
Your saving is the Stanford University SHIP premium ($8,808 a year) minus the price of a private plan the university accepts. Private plans in our comparison start at $33/month ($396/year) for the youngest age band; plans that meet strict waiver criteria usually cost more. Compare the real price of the plan you would submit before you decide.
- Premium: vaden.stanford.edu
- Waiver deadline: vaden.stanford.edu
- Waiver criteria: vaden.stanford.edu