Is Hospital Indemnity Insurance Worth It? | MetLife (2024)

Unexpected medical expenses can potentially hinder your finances and overall health. And while health insurance helps cover medical expenses, it can still leave you with extra expenses to pay that can pile up. In fact, according to a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, one in eight Americans owe $10,000 or more in medical debt — even those with medical insurance.1

Hospital indemnity insurance can help you handle those hospital bills and the additional expenses that may come up from spending time in the hospital. Learn about the benefits of hospital indemnity insurance and when it may be a good time to enroll in a plan.

How does hospital indemnity insurance work?

Hospital indemnity insurance is a type of supplemental health insurance that can help cover costs associated with hospital stays.

Hospital indemnity insurance plans offer a payment that can be used for anything you see fit, from costs likedeductibles, co-pays, coinsurance, medications, and rehabilitation to everyday expenses, such as childcare, gas, and groceries.

How much is a hospital stay per day?

According to data from healthcare.gov,the average three-day hospital stay costs around $30,000. Families and individuals can accrue debt due to a medical emergency, illness, or ongoing health procedures.2In fact, one study found that about one in four Americans report having no emergency savings at all, which can mean a hospital stay can be financially debilitating.3

In addition to having financial coverage in case of medical emergencies, other reasons you may want hospital indemnity insurance include:

  • You’re pregnant or planning for a baby. Hospital indemnity insurance may provide coverage for extra days spent in the hospital after giving birth.
  • You or a family member have a chronic illness. For those with chronic medical conditions — like cancer, diabetes, or heart disease — hospital indemnity insurance can help cover your frequent hospital visits.
  • You have an upcoming surgery or procedure. You may want hospital indemnity insurance for a scheduled hospital visit, overnight stay, or outpatient surgery.

Advantages of hospital indemnity insurance

There are many potential advantages to having hospital indemnity insurance. For a full list of coverage and benefits, make sure to read your provider's policy, as coverage will differ by provider. But in general, here are some of the advantages that may come with a hospital indemnity policy.

It provides a lump sumto use as you see fit

Since money is sent to you directly, you get to choose how it’s spent. As mentioned earlier, you can use the money toward hospital expenses or for things related to recovery, such as transportation costs, food, and childcare.

It can cover you and your loved ones

Often, hospital indemnity insurance also covers your spouse and children if they’re admitted to the hospital. Look for coverage that best fits the needs of your household. Anything from a broken bone to a chronic condition may be covered for everyone in your family.

It often offers coverage that is portable

In many cases, your hospital indemnity coverage will remain the same even if you change jobs or move somewhere new. Some hospital indemnity plans will even offer coverage after the policyholder retires or goes on Medicare.

What to look for in a hospital indemnity plan

Before selecting a hospital indemnity insurance plan for you and your family, consider the following factors:

  • Cost: The cost of the plan will depend on the provider; however, it may be less expensive than you’d think.
  • Length of coverage:Know your coverage period. It should be listed on your policy or in the plan information available from your human resources specialist.
  • Payout terms: Find out how long it takes after your hospital stay for you to receive an insurance payout.
Is Hospital Indemnity Insurance Worth It? | MetLife (2024)

FAQs

What is the purpose of hospital indemnity insurance? ›

Pays a pre-determined cash benefit if you're admitted to the hospital due to an accident or illness, or for maternity care, and continues to pay a cash benefit for every day you're in the hospital, up to 30 days.

What are the disadvantages of indemnity insurance? ›

It doesn't cover prescription drugs and typically won't work for those with pre-existing conditions. Coverage is not guaranteed and there will be limits, which vary from one plan to another.

Is indemnity health insurance worth it? ›

Is Hospital Indemnity Insurance Worth It? Like many supplemental insurance plans, hospital indemnity insurance is typically lower in cost, depending on the plan and coverage. Affordable hospital indemnity plans are worth considering if your existing health insurance plan has limits on hospitalization coverage.

Do I need indemnity insurance? ›

If someone has given you money to help with your deposit, you could need indemnity insurance. Because, if that person is ever declared bankrupt, their creditors could make a claim on your property. The insurance could protect you from lost value if this occurred.

What does indemnity insurance provide? ›

The term indemnity insurance refers to an insurance policy that compensates an insured party for certain unexpected damages or losses up to a certain limit—usually the amount of the loss itself. Insurance companies provide coverage in exchange for premiums paid by the insured parties.

How do indemnity plans work? ›

With an indemnity plan (sometimes called fee-for-service), you can use any medical provider (such as a doctor and hospital). You or the provider sends the bill to the insurance company, which pays part of it. Usually, you have a deductible—such as $200—to pay each year before the insurer starts paying.

Why is indemnity bad? ›

Indemnity clauses are most commonly misused for two reasons: That if a risk is not covered by an indemnity, a party will not have adequate means of recovering its loss if the risk materialises. That an indemnity clause has advantages over a claim for damages such that if they can be used, they should be used.

What is the benefit of an indemnity? ›

Workers' compensation indemnity benefits are cash benefits paid to injured workers that vary with the severity of the worker's disability. These can include benefits for temporary disability (time loss), permanent partial disability, permanent total disability, and death.

What are indemnity risks? ›

Specific indemnities

loss or damage to third party property or persons in carrying out the works; breaches under the Bribery Act; breaches of confidentiality undertakings or data protection; liability caused as a result of actionable nuisance and trespass claims; and/or. infringements of environmental law.

Is hospital indemnity insurance tax deductible? ›

It's up to the employee/policyholder to identify and report any amount of excess benefits, including income on their personal Form 1040. If an indemnity health policy is paid for by the employee on an after-tax basis, then the entire amount of the benefits is tax-free.

What is the difference between critical illness and hospital indemnity? ›

Critical illness insurance provides a payment following the diagnosis of a serious illness or disease. Hospital indemnity insurance provides payment following admission of your hospital stay. Accident insurance provides coverage if you're injured or pass away due to an accident.

How does Aetna hospital indemnity work? ›

How does the Hospital Indemnity Plan work? The Hospital Indemnity Plan pays cash benefits directly to you for services related to a planned or unplanned covered inpatient hospital stay while you are covered under the plan.

What is the indemnity cover for nurses? ›

If you are employed

If you work for the NHS, you will already have an appropriate indemnity arrangement. The NHS insures its employees for work carried out on their behalf, which means you will be covered if a successful claim is made against you in that employment.

What is an example of indemnity insurance? ›

For example, in the case of home insurance, the homeowner pays insurance premiums to the insurance company in exchange for the assurance that the homeowner will be indemnified if the house sustains damage from fire, natural disasters, or other perils specified in the insurance agreement.

What are the rules of indemnity? ›

The rule of indemnity, or the indemnity principle, says that an insurance policy should not confer a benefit that is greater in value than the loss suffered by the insured. Indemnities and insurance both guard against financial losses and aim to restore a party to the financial status held before an event occurred.

What is the difference between a PPO and an indemnity plan? ›

Unlike managed care plans, such as HMOs or PPOs, which require individuals to select healthcare professionals from within a predefined network, indemnity plans allow you to access care from any licensed provider or facility across the country.

Which of the following best describes a hospital indemnity policy? ›

Which of the following BEST describes a Hospital Indemnity policy? Coverage that pays a stated amount per day of a covered hospitalization.

How much is indemnity insurance? ›

What is the cost of professional indemnity insurance? AXA customers pay prices from £6.17* a month or £75** a year for professional indemnity insurance. It's important to note that no two businesses have the same cost. There are several other factors that impact how much your premium will be.

What is the elimination period under a hospital indemnity plan? ›

The elimination period under a hospital indemnity plan refers to the specified number of days an insured must wait before becoming eligible to receive benefits for each hospitalization. This waiting period acts as a form of deductible, but instead of an amount of money, it's measured in time.

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