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What Is Hospital Indemnity Insurance?
Hospital indemnity pays a fixed daily cash benefit for every day you're confined to a hospital — regardless of the reason. Accident, illness, planned surgery — it doesn't matter. The cash is paid directly to you, not the hospital. Use it for copays, deductibles, lost income, childcare, mortgage, or anything else while you recover.
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How Daily Benefits Work
You choose your daily benefit at enrollment: $100 to $1,100/day for hospital, $200 to $1,500/day for ICU. A 5-day hospital stay at $500/day = $2,500 cash. A 3-day ICU stay at $1,000/day = $3,000 cash. Benefits are paid per confinement with no annual or lifetime maximum on the number of stays.
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Hospital Indemnity vs. Health Insurance
Health insurance covers hospital bills. Hospital indemnity covers everything health insurance doesn't — your deductible (national average $1,787 for single coverage, KFF 2024), copays, out-of-network charges, transportation, childcare, and lost wages. Even with health insurance, out-of-pocket costs for a hospital stay in Maryland can run $1,200–$3,500. Hospital indemnity fills the gap from day one.
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Skilled Nursing & Outpatient
Optional riders add skilled nursing facility benefits ($50-$550/day for up to 14 days after a 7-day elimination period) and outpatient surgery benefits ($50-$550 per procedure, one per year). The wellness visit rider pays $75/year for preventative care — a benefit that pays even if you're never hospitalized.
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Who Needs Hospital Indemnity?
Anyone with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), an HSA, or Medicare. If your health insurance deductible is $1,000+, hospital indemnity fills the gap from day one. It's also ideal for self-employed workers who lose income during hospital stays, and families where one hospitalization could create a financial emergency.
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Maryland Consumer Protections
Hospital indemnity policies through our carriers are guaranteed renewable with level premiums. Maryland requires a 10-day free-look period (Md. Code Ins. § 16-101). Issue ages 18–85. Guaranteed issue available for qualified worksites. Simplified issue for individuals requires health questions. Medicaid may reduce benefits. Federal law (Social Security Act § 1882) requires uniform Medigap disclosure for applicants 65+.
