Understanding Full Hospital Insurance: Coverage & Benefits

Full hospital health insurance is also known as hospital care or hospital expense insurance. It is insurance purchased specifically for the coverage of expenses for hospitalization. A wide variety of plans offer different levels of coverage.

Purpose

• Full hospital or hospital care insurance should be purchased as supplemental insurance in conjunction with a basic health insurance plan.

Coverage

• Hospital insurance generally covers only expenses associated with hospitalization. Other health care expenses must be paid for by the insured or through a different health insurance plan.

Cost

• Premiums for a hospital insurance plan can be reduced if the plan requires the insured to pay deductibles and co-pays.

Benefits

• Hospital insurance commonly pays for the surgeon's bill for surgery, ambulance fees, anesthesia, X-rays and scans, and the operating room, as well as basic room and nurse attendant fees.

Additional Options

• Some plans will provide cash to help pay for living expenses during the hospital stay. An accidental-death benefit can be added to the hospitalization expense plan in some cases.