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Campus Health Service Fee ("Health Fee")

Note: all fees are subject to change.

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Overview

The Campus Health Service Fee ("Health Fee") is a quarterly fee that is mandatory for all undergraduate and graduate students enrolled on the Stanford main campus, including visiting student researchers and students who participate in high school summer programs that result in course credit at Stanford. This fee, which is charged on the student bill each quarter that tuition is charged, covers many of the services provided at Vaden Health Center including primary care visits, CAPS evaluation and short-term therapy, and health and wellness programs. It is similar to fees found at many of Stanford’s peer institutions, and it allows the university to maintain valuable health services for students.

Students are also required to maintain health insurance to cover the costs of specialty care, prescriptions, emergency care, inpatient care, and off-campus health services. This requirement can be met either by purchasing Cardinal Care (Stanford’s student health insurance plan) or an alternative insurance plan that has comparable benefits to Cardinal Care.

Amount of the Health Fee

For the 2017-18 academic year, the Health Fee will be $210 per quarter.

The charge is included in the student's bill for each quarter that tuition is charged. 

The amount of the fee is subject to annual review and adjustment.

Care Provided at Vaden Health Center Covered by the Health Fee

Vaden Health Center offers a wide array of medical, mental health, and health promotion services on site, many of which are covered under the Health Fee. These include

Primary Care Medical Services

  • Medical appointments during weekday hours.
  • Urgently needed care during weekend and evening hours.
  • 24-hour telephone medical advice for urgent conditions.
  • Confidential web-based messaging to Vaden clinicians.
  • Web-based booking of weekday appointments.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

  • Psychological evaluation and short-term therapy.
  • Initial psychiatric medication evaluation.
  • 24-hour crisis services.

Health and Wellness Programs

  • Nutrition counseling and education.
  • Sexual health and relationship consultation and education.
  • Peer health education programs and services.
  • Health and wellness programs and events.

Care Provided at Vaden Health Center Not Covered by the Health Fee

The following services are provided at Vaden Health Center, but are not covered under the Health Fee. We offer these services on site as a convenience to our students, but in most instances, charges will apply. The charge that is applicable will depend on the type of health insurance coverage the student has; the payment due at the time of service will typically range from the amount of an insurance copay to the full cost of the service. In some instances, the student might be able to recapture some or all of the cost if the service is covered by his/her private health insurance. 

  • Pharmacy prescriptions and other medications
  • Physical therapy treatment
  • Travel Clinic visits and vaccinations
  • Allergy, Immunization, and Injection Clinic services *
  • Immunizations and tests to meet Stanford’s entrance medical requirements *
  • Long term therapy at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
  • Psychiatric medication management at CAPS
  • Physical examinations for employment, special programs, or other purposes
  • Medical specialty consultations (those offered at Vaden Health Center currently include Dermatology, Optometry, Sports Medicine, and Eating Disorder Care)

* some exceptions apply

Students Required to Pay the Health Fee

Most, but not all students are required to pay the Health Fee and are eligible to access care at Vaden Health Center. The following general groupings of students are assessed the fee: 

Students Not Required to Pay the Health Fee

If you fall into one of the categories that is not assessed the Health Fee, you may access care at Vaden Health Center. You will either be charged the Health Fee at the time of your visit or you will be charged fee-for-service for the care you receive, depending on your particular category.

How do I Access Care at Vaden Health Center?

For routine, non-urgent care, Vaden Health Center hosts an online portal called VadenPatient that allows you to

  • Make general medical appointments.
  • Make counseling and psychological services (CAPS) appointments.
  • Communicate with your clinician.
  • Make nutrition counseling appointments.
  • Make new Travel Clinic visit appointments.
  • Make Immunization and Injection Clinic appointments.
  • Make allergy shot appointments (excluding the first appointment).
  • Make anonymous HIV testing appointments.
  • Cancel appointments.
  • Order pharmacy refills.
  • Use a free screening tool to see if you are at risk for Hepatitis B (select ‘appointments’).

To access the VadenPatient online portal you will need your SUNet ID and your student ID. Once you’ve made your appointment

  • Plan to arrive 15 minutes ahead of your appointment time.
  • Bring any medications you are currently taking and any medical records that are relevant to your visit.
  • For a visit where no fees apply, check in at the computer in Vaden’s lobby and then proceed to the appropriate waiting area.
  • For a visit where fees do apply (e.g., CAPS medication management, injections, physical therapy, etc.), check in first with the receptionist in our lobby and then proceed to the appropriate waiting area.

For an urgent need that cannot wait for an appointment, you may come directly to Vaden Health Center during weekday business hours, evening business hours, or weekend business hours.

Campus Health Service Fee FAQs

I don't anticipate needing to seek care at Vaden Health Center (or have rarely done so in the past). Why should I have to pay the Health Fee?

You never know when you might need care, and, to be equitable, the university applies the fee to all students who are on campus. This approach is preferable to charging a fee at the time of service, which could deter students from seeking care when they really need it. 

Can I request an exemption from paying the Health Fee?

The Campus Health Service Fee is mandatory for all students enrolled on the main Stanford campus (see list above). A Campus Health Service Fee exemption may be requested by enrolled students who are living outside the nine-county Bay Area for the entire quarter and who therefore cannot easily access Vaden Health Center. The Bay Area is defined as Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma counties. To request an exemption, you must complete and submit a specialized HelpSU ticket. Please note that exemption requests will be considered for the current academic year only. Exemption requests for previous academic years will not be granted for any reason.

What if I study abroad, at Bing Stanford in Washington, or Hopkins Marine Station?

The Campus Health Service Fee is charged to students enrolled on the main Stanford campus. While you are enrolled at another Stanford campus, you will not be assessed the Health Fee, even though you may be paying other Stanford charges, such as tuition. This is true of students enrolled in Bing Overseas Studies Program and Bing Stanford in Washington, and of those studying at the Hopkins Marine Station.  

I am a graduate student away from campus for a quarter or more.  Will I have to pay the fee?

A Campus Health Service Fee exemption may be requested by enrolled students who are living outside of the Bay Area for the entire quarter. The Bay Area is defined as Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma counties. Students may request the exemption through the Student Services Center via a specialized HelpSU ticket. The HelpSU ticket will require that you answer several questions to confirm eligibility for the exemption.

Are there any university resources to help me pay this fee?

A Graduate Student Aid Fund has been established to assist a limited number of graduate students with university fees, such as the Campus Health Service Fee and Cardinal Care Insurance costs, when those fees cause significant hardship. Interested students are asked to complete the loan application process with the Financial Aid Office to establish financial need.

In addition, the Emergency Grant-in-Aid Fund is available for students experiencing financial hardship due to unanticipated expenses or a financial emergency (medical, dental, legal, etc.).  Find more information about both programs. 

I am a graduate student with funding from my program, department, or fellowship. Will the fee be covered?

It depends on the source and type of support you receive. Some departments and some sources of funding will cover the fee, but many will not. Please consult with your department's student services administrator.

I am a graduate student using federal student loans to finance my educational costs.  Can my loan eligibility be adjusted to reflect this fee?

Yes. As a mandatory fee, the costs are included in the calculation of your eligibility for loans.

I am an undergraduate currently receiving university scholarship funds.  Will my financial aid be increased to cover the fee?

Yes. The Campus Health Service Fee will be included in your Cost of Attendance used to calculate financial aid eligibility.

If I purchase Cardinal Care and pay the Campus Health Service Fee, am I paying for the same services twice?

No. Cardinal Care and the Campus Health Service Fee cover two distinct sets of services, and they do not overlap. Cardinal Care was designed to meet students’ needs beyond the core services provided at Vaden Health Center under the Health Fee, such as specialty care, prescriptions, emergency and inpatient care, to name a few.

If I am unregistered for summer quarter but have Cardinal Care, do I have to pay the fee?

No, you do not need to pay the fee if you are unregistered for classes in summer quarter unless you present at Vaden for care in the summer. The Health Fee is charged only if you come to Vaden for care. (If you are unregistered for summer and do not have Cardinal Care, a Summer Access Charge, equal to the amount of the Health Fee, will be charged if you come to Vaden for care.)

I have my own insurance plan.  Do I have to pay this fee?

Yes. The Campus Health Service Fee covers the cost of most services at Vaden Health Center, which you may use regardless of your private insurance coverage. You need your private insurance (or Cardinal Care, the university-sponsored insurance plan) to cover the cost of other services, such as specialist care, outside of Vaden.

I have my own insurance plan.  Does Vaden Health Center bill my private insurance for primary medical care visits?

No.  Vaden Health Center does not bill private insurance carriers for primary care visits, CAPS evaluation and short-term therapy, or the health and wellness programs that are covered under the Health Fee.

What if I take a leave of absence in the middle of the quarter?

The Campus Health Service Fee is billed quarterly and is not prorated.

I am a student who is not required to pay the fee. Can I still come to Vaden?

Yes. Students who are not required to pay the Campus Health Service Fee may use services at Vaden Health Center and will be charged at the time of service for each service used. Students may seek reimbursement from their insurance company, but there is no guarantee that insurance will pay.

Will I be charged for my prescription at the pharmacy?

Yes. Pharmacy services are not covered by the Campus Health Service Fee. Pharmacy charges, like some other services at Vaden, are the student’s responsibility.

I am a spouse/domestic partner of a student. Am I required to pay the Campus Health Service Fee?

No. Spouses and domestic partners are not charged the fee. Adult dependents of students may be seen at Vaden Health Center for fee-for-service at the time of the visit, but it may not be the most economical choice for the dependent based on his/her insurance coverage. Adult dependents who have coverage through the Stanford Student Dependent Health Insurance Plan should access care through a networked provider to minimize out-of-pocket costs.

I have additional questions. How can I get more information?

If you have additional questions about the Campus Health Service Fee, please submit a HelpSU ticket.