A student may enroll a spouse/domestic partner and child/children in the Stanford Student Dependent Health Insurance Plan only if s/he (the student) is 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 the entire academic career at Stanford when a student can purchase the plan for his/her dependent(s) unless a qualifying life event occurs.
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 |
Dependent Coverage Effective Date |
|---|---|---|
|
Autumn |
For students whose first quarter is autumn, the Open Enrollment period for dependents is September 1 through September 30. |
September 1 or October 1, based on date of enrollment |
|
Winter |
For students whose first quarter is winter, the Open Enrollment period for dependents is January 1 through January 31. |
January 1 or February 1, based on date of enrollment |
|
Spring |
For students whose first quarter is spring, the Open Enrollment period for dependents is April 1 through April 30. |
April 1 or May 1, based on date of enrollment |
|
Summer |
For students whose first quarter is summer, the Open Enrollment period for dependents is June 1 through June 30. |
June 1 or July 1, based on date of enrollment |
Note: In adherence with the university's winter closure period, Vaden’s Insurance and Referral Office is closed from mid to late December through early January each year.
A student's dependent(s) may choose to drop the Dependent plan, but will not have the option to re-enroll unless there is a qualifying life event.
To enroll in the Dependent Health Insurance Plan, the 
enrollment application must be completed and sent to the Vaden Insurance and Referral Office. Additional details are listed on the application form.
Qualifying Life Event Enrollments
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. The enrollment form must be completed and received by the Insurance Office at Vaden Health Center within 30 days of the qualifying event.
