Health Fee versus Health Insurance—Which Do I Use?

The chart below is intended to show examples of services offered at Vaden Health Center that are covered under the Health Fee versus services offered at Vaden Health Center that are not covered under the Health Fee. Many of the services listed that are not covered under the Health Fee are covered routinely by insurance plans, but students with alternative insurance should seek insurance-covered care according to the terms of their plan in order for it to be covered. For the services not covered under the Health Fee, students may be asked to show their insurance card, or, if not enrolled in Cardinal Care, may be asked to make payment up front and seek reimbursement from their alternative plan.

Services covered under the Health Fee

Primary Care Medical Services

• Medical appointments during weekday hours (with web-based booking capability)

• Some weekend hours (see the Vaden Health Center website at vaden.stanford.edu for services offered)

• 24-hour telephone medical advice for urgent conditions

• Medical care management

• Confidential web-based messaging with clinicians

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

• Counseling assessments and short-term therapy

• 24-hour crisis counseling services (after-hours crisis support by phone)

• Care management and referral services

• Groups and workshops that focus on a range of mental health and well-being needs for students

Well-Being Services

• Nutrition counseling and education

Services offered at Vaden Health Center but not covered under the Health Fee*

• Pharmacy prescriptions and other medications

• Physical Therapy treatment

• Travel Clinic visits and travel-related vaccinations

• Immunization and Injection Clinic Services (including immunizations and tests to meet the university’s Health Requirements)

• Most laboratory testing (Most specimens collected at Vaden Health Center are sent to Stanford Health Care or Quest Diagnostics, Inc., for testing.)

• Professional interpretation of diagnostic radiology images (X-rays taken at Vaden Health Center will be read by a Stanford Health Care radiologist.)

• Ongoing individual therapy sessions at CAPS which exceed a brief treatment model (providers will discuss any applicable fees with students before billing occurs)

• Psychiatric medication evaluation and management

• Physical examinations (and associated lab tests and x-rays) for employment, special programs, or other purposes

• Medical specialty consultations (those offered at Vaden Health Center currently include Dermatology, Optometry and Eating Disorder Care)

*Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, and specialist services will be billed to your insurance, whether it is Cardinal Care or an alternative plan. Vaden will bill Cardinal Care for other services that are not covered under the Health Fee, but does not bill alternative insurances. If you have alternative insurance, you may be required to pay up front and seek reimbursement from your alternative plan for these services.

Other programs and services offered through the Vaden Health Services portfolio at no additional cost

• Coaching services and support

• Health and wellness programs and events

• Sexual health and relationship consultation and education

• Alcohol and substance use counseling

• Confidential support for students impacted by sexual, intimate partner, or gender-based violence or harassment.