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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 Pennsylvania 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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Pennsylvania Consumer Protections
Hospital indemnity policies through our carriers are guaranteed renewable with level premiums. Pennsylvania requires a 10-day free-look period (31 Pa. Code Ch. 89). 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+.
