Lower Health Care Costs for Postdocs with Dependents

The monthly out-of-pocket expense of health insurance premiums for postdocs with dependents has increased by 50% since last year while expenses for postdocs without dependents have remained $0. Overall, the monthly cost of family insurance can be as high as $700, constituting 20-25% of the take home salary for Stanford postdocs. This is a point of desperation for the affected families. Regardless of our family-status, we all share the frustration of our colleagues, as they are burdened with premiums that far exceed their capacity to pay for them.

We understand that the health care premiums have increased for all faculty, staff, and students, and we appreciate that the University absorbs a majority of the total health care cost for postdoctoral scholars. However, the remaining 10% of the total cost or roughly $140,000, is shouldered entirely by postdocs with dependents, a population that is especially vulnerable to increases in monthly expenses.

Considering the emphasis on family-friendly policies at Stanford, we are optimistic that the university with act quickly to rectify this situation.