How Do I Use My Insurance for Therapy?

I Would Like Assistance Navigating My Mental Health Benefits

You are encouraged to connect with CAPS for support from a CAPS provider and to obtain support to connect to referrals on your Cardinal Care plan. If you have met with a CAPS provider before, you can message your CAPS provider on the Vaden Portal to request help with referrals.

If you think you may benefit from referral assistance, and do not have a CAPS provider currently, call us at 650.723.3785 and let the CAPS front desk staff know you would like support for off-campus referrals.

I Have Cardinal Care Insurance

Wellfleet is the insurer for Stanford Student Cardinal Care. Mental health services are covered with a $35 copay for visits if you see an in-network provider.  Services with an out-of-network provider are able to be be reimbursed at the Stanford Wellfleet out-of-network benefit reimbursement level outlined in Student Health Matters. 

You do not need a referral from Vaden to see a psychiatrist or therapist under the Cardinal Care plan. This page has a list of all health care services where a referral is not needed, and states no referral needed for psychiatry or mental health- you can share this link with any provider or clinic if they state a referral is needed for your Wellfleet Cardinal Care coverage. Please speak with a CAPS provider if you have any questions or challenges!

Locally and in California

You can search for providers directly on Wellfleet site here. For California providers, you would select “Blue Shield of California PPO Network” as your plan.  

You can also search on the Welltrack connect platform, where many local providers list their practices. On this site, you are able to review more provider information and send messages to providers directly. To find providers, follow instructions for the site. Under insurance, check two boxes: “Blue Sheild of California PPO” and “Wellfleet Stanford – SHIP”. This search will give you in-network results and options in California.

Out of State

Your Cardinal Care behavioral health plan outside of California is Cigna PPO and it is a national plan. You can find providers directly on the Cardinal Care Wellfleet site here.

I Have Different Insurance

This is a general guide for students with non-Cardinal Care insurance who need assistance understanding their mental health benefits and obtaining referrals. 

CAPS providers are available to support you with this process. If you have a recent or current provider at CAPS, message them in the Vaden Portal to request assistance. If you do not have a provider, call CAPS at 650.723.3785 during business hours and request an appointment with a provider for assistance.

Guidance for searching for providers on your insurance:

Each insurance company has its own system in place, but the procedure for obtaining referrals is common to many insurance plans. If you are not sure what benefits you have under your plan, we have made some guidelines to help you get that information.

If you already know your benefits and are seeking providers who take your insurance, you can search Welltrack connect. On the Welltrack site, check the box for your insurance and location, and click "search." You can also check on CAPS Referral Resources page for local clinics who accept a variety of insurances, to see if yours is accepted. In all cases, always have a conversation with the provider or practice, to confirm your insurance will be accepted, prior to your appointment.

Instructions

Check below for specific instructions detailing how to:

• Contact your insurance, understand your benefits: Calling to clarify your insurance coverage for mental health services
• Navigate your insurance if you have a plan through Kaiser Permanente
• Navigate your insurance if you have a plan through Medi-Cal or Medicaid