Stanford Health Insurance Waiver 2026-2027: Deadline, Requirements & Step-by-Step Guide
Stanford Health Insurance Waiver 2026-2027: Deadline, Requirements & Step-by-Step Guide
Quick Answer
Stanford 2026-2027 Health Insurance Waiver Deadline & Requirements
Fall 2026 deadline: September 15, 2026 (Coverage period: September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027). Spring 2027 deadline is Winter: December 15, 2026; Spring: March 15, 2027; Summer: June 15, 2027.
Start here: Go to the Stanford Axess & AHP Cardinal Care Waiver Portal to submit your waiver application.
What you waive: Students with qualifying alternative ACA-comparable coverage may waive Cardinal Care. The Campus Health Service Fee remains mandatory for all enrolled students for on-campus Vaden Health Services access.
What you need: Stanford student credentials, insurance card (front and back), Member ID, Policy/Group Number, insurance carrier name (e.g. Spectrum Life Ltd.), US claims address/phone, and Summary of Benefits (SBC) PDF.
Charge removal: Upon AHP and Vaden Health verification and approval, Cardinal Care charges are removed from your Stanford student financial account within 5–10 business days.
Mandatory Stanford waiver criteria checklist
- Individual annual deductible must not exceed $10,600 USD ($21,200 family).
- Out-of-pocket maximum must not exceed $10,600 USD individual / $21,200 USD family.
- Comprehensive coverage in the San Francisco Bay Area for inpatient/outpatient hospital care, emergency, specialist visits, mental health, and prescription drugs.
- Carrier must be licensed in the US with a US claims payment office and US customer service phone. International students eligible with qualifying coverage.
Official sources: Stanford Vaden Health Cardinal Care · AHP Stanford Waiver Portal
Last verified: August 24, 2026. See the Stanford University School Page for the deadline, requirements, and plan comparison →
Stanford waiver FAQ
1. What is the regular Stanford waiver deadline for Autumn 2026?
The Autumn 2026 waiver deadline is September 15, 2026 (Coverage period: September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027). Winter deadline is December 15, 2026; Spring deadline is March 15, 2027; Summer deadline is June 15, 2027.
2. What is the difference between Cardinal Care and the Campus Health Service Fee?
The Campus Health Service Fee covers primary care at Vaden Health Center and is mandatory for all students. Cardinal Care is comprehensive health insurance covering hospitalization and specialist care; this is the plan you opt out of by waiving.
3. Can international students (F-1 / J-1) waive Cardinal Care?
Yes. International students holding F-1 or J-1 visas can waive Cardinal Care if their alternative insurance meets Stanford's ACA-comparable coverage standards.
4. What are the core deductible and out-of-pocket limits for Stanford waiver?
Individual annual deductible must be $10,600 USD or less, and annual out-of-pocket maximum must be $10,600 USD individual / $21,200 USD family or less.
5. How long does Stanford / AHP take to review a waiver and remove Cardinal Care charges?
AHP verifies submitted policy details within 5 to 10 business days. Approved waivers remove the Cardinal Care charge from your Stanford student billing account.
6. Do I need to submit a waiver every quarter or academic year?
An approved Autumn waiver covers the entire academic year. New students entering in Winter or Spring must submit a waiver before the respective quarterly deadline.
7. What happens if my waiver is denied?
Review the denial reason on AHP, provide requested missing information, or submit a formal appeal. If your waiver is formally denied by Stanford and you purchased a DIANins plan, DIANins provides a 100% full refund upon proof of denial (subject to no claims filed).
Waiver entry points
- Stanford Axess: https://axess.stanford.edu/
- Cardinal Care Waiver official instructions: https://vaden.stanford.edu/insurance-referral-office/cardinal-care/waiving-cardinal-care
- Academic HealthPlans / Stanford: https://stanford.myahpcare.com/
Tip: Usually complete the Mandatory Health Insurance / Cardinal Care task in Axess first, then enter the AHP waiver page.
Prepare before you start
Prepare your Stanford account, insurance card, Confirmation Letter, Policy / SBC, your name and date of birth, Member ID, and Group Number. In the screenshots, Insurance Company is filled as Spectrum Life Ltd., Payer ID is 60054, and Member Service Phone is 800-791-4531.
STANFORD WAIVE STEPS
01. Log in to the Stanford official portal
Enter the Stanford Services and Support / Axess entry and log in with your school account.
02. View your insurance task in Axess
In My Action Items, find the Mandatory Health Insurance / Cardinal Care related task.
03. Enter the Cardinal Care Enrollment Policy
Read the page instructions and enter the prerequisite step for Cardinal Care enrollment / waiver.
04. Read the Cardinal Care policy description
Read the full policy text and confirm the waiver open window and the university minimum insurance requirements.
05. Complete the Axess prerequisite declaration
Complete the confirmations and checkboxes on the page as shown, then continue to the next step.
06. Choose the waive direction
If you do not want to keep Cardinal Care, choose to waive health insurance coverage and continue into the waiver page.
07. Enter Request a Waiver
On the Stanford Cardinal Care page, click Request a Waiver.
08. Open the waiver request
Read the International Student Health Insurance Requirements, then click the entry to submit the waiver request.
09. Log in to the AHP system
On the Academic HealthPlans page, enter your student information and log in.
10. Select I want to Waive
On the AHP Dashboard, select I want to Waive to enter the current academic year waiver process.
11. Start the Waiver Process
Read the waiver process description and click the button to begin the application.
12. Fill in Health Insurance Requirements
Answer each page question according to your plan; before uploading, confirm your insurance meets the school requirements.
13. Upload insurance proof documents
Upload the insurance card, Confirmation Letter, Policy / SBC and other materials as shown. Keep file names simple and clear.
14. Fill in Policy Holder Information
Fill in the Policy Holder with your own information. For Insurance Company select Other and enter Spectrum Life Ltd.; Payer ID 60054; phone 800-791-4531.
15. Sign the Student Agreement
Read the student statement, type your name in the signature field, and enter today date.
16. Final confirmation and Submit
Read the Important Note, confirm everything, then click Submit. Save a screenshot of the success page or the confirmation email after submitting.
After submission
Save a screenshot of the submission success page or the confirmation email. If the system asks for more materials, return to the Stanford / AHP system promptly to check.
Need help checking your Stanford Waive info?
If you are unsure how to fill in Insurance Company, Member ID, Group Number, Payer ID, or which files to upload, gather your insurance card, insurance PDF, and waive page screenshots for a step-by-step check with a DIANins advisor.
Scan to consult: Stanford waive / insurance documents / submission field check
Submit 3-5 days before the deadline to leave time for any additional materials.
This guide is for reference only. The final requirements are subject to the Stanford, Cardinal Care, and AHP systems.