Financing Dental Procedures for Stanford Students

Oral health is intrinsic to your general health and well-being. Regular dental visits help prevent, detect, and treat oral conditions before they become serious and cause other systemic problems. Delaying dental treatments can lead to longer treatments and higher costs.

However, even a simple cleaning can be costly and if you are a Stanford student looking for guidance on financing dental procedures, look no further, as this post will provide all the information you need to understand your financing options, including qualifications, what’s covered, and limitations.

Financing of Dental Procedures for Stanford University Students

There are many convenient financing options available for Stanford University students so you never have to postpone a dental visit. 

Cardinal Care Dental Insurance

Cardinal Care is a wonderful benefit offered by Stanford University. Cardinal Care benefits are administered through Delta Dental of California. Unlike health care insurance which covers everything AFTER a certain substantial amount (deductible) is paid, Cardinal Care has a very nominal one-time $25 per year initial limit that needs to be paid by you before the insurance benefits kick in.   

While you may choose any dentist under the Cardinal Care plan, you will maximize your benefits when you visit an in-network Delta Dental dentist in Palo Alto or in locations closest to you – remember that Cardinal Care provides benefits while you are at school, at home, or while traveling

If you go to an in-network dentist, here’s a detailed breakdown of what’s covered:

  • All diagnostic and preventive services, including oral exams, routine cleanings, x-rays and fluoride treatments, are 100% covered.
  • Basic dental procedures, such as fillings and simple extractions, are 80% covered.
  • Other dental services, including root canals, periodontics, and oral surgery, are also 80% covered.

If you go to an out-of-network dentist, the benefits are less favorable. More details can be found here.

Dental Discounts

Local dentists also offer discounts for common dental procedures.  

As providers for students, we at Cambridge Dental Studio, know these out-of pocket-expenses can add stress to an already overwhelmed student.  This is the reason why we offer the most commonly uncovered procedures (by Cardinal Care) at a discounted rate.  These include crowns and nightguards.  Crowns are needed for teeth with low structural integrity and night guards are extremely beneficial for the stressful student who clenches and grinds their teeth!

Talk to our dental staff and we will be happy to provide you with more details on our discount packages for various dental procedures! 

Stanford Financial Aid for Dental Procedures

Stanford University’s Financial aid is offered to all undergraduate and graduate students to cover unanticipated expenses, such as medical, dental, and legal. The programs typically reimburse a student the cost of the dental procedures that may be out of the students’ typical budget and the process is simple. 

After an initial appointment, your Palo Alto dentist will determine if any procedures are needed.  We will then create a treatment plan and a price estimate (or an invoice if the procedure is already completed) that you send along with an application to Stanford. 

The graduate and undergraduate financial aid programs work slightly differently. 

For graduate students, the emergency grant-in-aid program offers grants to students to cover financial emergencies or unanticipated expenses that may impede academic progress. The grant is not a loan and as such does not need to be repaid. The maximum coverage is capped at $5,000 per academic year. More information and the emergency grant-in-aid application can be found here: https://financialaid.stanford.edu/pdf/EmergencyGrant-In-Aid.pdf

Undergraduate students may apply for financial aid for dental expenses as well. However, additional expenses may be in the form of loans or scholarship funds based on your financial evaluation. Additionally, only expenses that exceed $150 will be considered and documentation of all costs incurred is required to process the request. Details and application can be found here: https://financialaid.stanford.edu/pdf/MedicalDentalExpense.pdf

Both undergraduate and graduate financial aid applications can be uploaded at: https://ecmform.stanford.edu/fao_upload/ 

Schedule a consultation with our dentists at Cambridge Dental Studio and we will be happy to draw up a treatment plan and a price estimate or provide a detailed invoice that you can use to apply for financial assistance and Stanford will typically process the claim in a timely manner.

Conclusion

At Cambridge Dental Studio, we’ve got your back on both health & budgetary fronts. If you’re a Stanford student, talk to us to see how we can help finance your dental procedures and minimize your out-of-pocket expense! We routinely work with insurance companies so you can get the most out of your plan and also offer student discounts and simple convenient payment plans for most treatments without having to go through the hassle of credit checks.