Hospital Indemnity Insurance

Hospital visits can be costly. Hospital Indemnity insurance can help.

Hospital stays are costly and are often unexpected.

Since most health care plans don’t cover all of your expenses, you need to take steps to help protect yourself and your savings.

With an average cost of $10,000 per hospital stay in the U.S.,1 it’s easy to see why having hospital indemnity insurance may make good financial sense. Just think about the possibility of having a hospital stay due to an accident or illness:

  • Your child gets hurt on the school playground
  • You experience chest pains while exercising and are admitted to the hospital
    to be checked and monitored
  • Your spouse2 undergoes an emergency appendectomy

Even the best medical plans may leave you with extra expenses to pay out of your own pocket.

A hospital stay can require a variety of treatments, tests, therapies and other care and services to assist in recovery. Each of these services may mean extra out-of-pocket costs for you to pay, beyond what your medical plan may cover, including medical plan deductibles and copayments, and extra expenses associated with out-of-network care and treatment.

Other household expenses may be harder to cover due to lost or reduced income,
like your mortgage, car payment, child care or household upkeep while you recover.

Hospital indemnity insurance can help you be better prepared by providing you with a payment to use as you see fit if you experience a covered event and meet the policy and certificate requirements. Typically a flat amount is paid for hospital admission and a per-day amount is paid for each day of a covered hospital stay, from the very first day of your stay. This payment can help you focus more on getting back on track and less on the extra expenses an accident or illness may bring.

Hospital Indemnity Insurance

How can having MetLife Hospital Indemnity Insurance benefit you?

Access to benefits for hospitalization due to accidents and sicknesses:3

  • Admission to a hospital
  • Intensive Care Unit stays
  • Hospital stays
  • Inpatient Rehab Unit stays (accidents only)
  • Admission to an Intensive Care Unit

Actual plan design and plan benefits may vary. See your Disclosure Statement or Outline of Coverage/Disclosure Document for full details on the coverage types, amounts and premium options under your plan. 

Type Weekly (52) Bi-Weekly (26)
Employee Only $4.54 $9.08
Employee + Spouse $11.43 $22.86
Employee + Children $7.71 $15.42
Employee + Spouse/Children $14.86 $29.72

FAQs

Why should I enroll now? Collapsed Expanded
  • Competitive group rates
  • You and your eligible family members are guaranteed acceptance.4
  • Convenient payroll deduction ensures continuous, worry-free coverage.
Who is eligible to enroll for this coverage? Collapsed Expanded

You are eligible to enroll yourself and your eligible family members. You need to enroll during your Enrollment Period and be actively at work for your coverage to be effective.

I have a good medical plan at work. Why do I need hospital indemnity insurance? Collapsed Expanded

Even quality medical plans can leave you with unexpected expenses when you are hospitalized. Costs like plan deductibles, copays and co-insurance for doctor and emergency room care, testing and supplies, and extra costs for out-of-network care may not be covered. Many people aren’t financially prepared to handle these extra costs. Having extra financial support may mean less worry for you and your family, and it will give you the ability to protect your savings and focus on your recovery.

Can I enroll for this insurance without having to take a medical exam? Collapsed Expanded

Yes. Your hospital indemnity coverage is guaranteed issue,4 which means your acceptance is guaranteed. You just need to be actively at work for your coverage to be effective. There are no medical exams to take and no health questions to answer.

Are benefits paid directly to me or to my health care provider? Collapsed Expanded

Payments will be paid directly to you, not to the doctors, hospitals or other health care providers. You will receive a check, payable to you, for maximum convenience. There is no coordination of benefits with any other insurance you may have.

What happens if my employment status changes? Can I take my coverage with me? Collapsed Expanded

Yes. This coverage is portable, meaning you can take it with you if your employment status changes. Your coverage will only end if you stop paying your premium or if your current employer chooses to terminate the group hospital indemnity insurance policy.5

Is the claims process simple? Collapsed Expanded

Yes. Once all required information is received, claims are generally processed within 10 business days. Only one claim form is needed per admission or hospital stay and every claim is reviewed by a claims professional.

1 Costs for Hospital Stays in the United States, 2011. HCUP Statistical Brief #168. December 2013. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. Accessed March 2017.

2 Coverage for domestic partners, civil union partners and reciprocal beneficiaries varies by state. Please contact MetLife for more information.

3 There is a pre-existing exclusion for covered sicknesses. Hospital does not include certain facilities such as nursing homes, convalescent care or extended care facilities. See your Disclosure Statement or Outline of Coverage/Disclosure Document for full details.

4 Coverage is guaranteed provided (1) the employee is actively at work and (2) dependents to be covered are not subject to medical restrictions as set forth in the Certificate. Some states require the insured to have medical coverage. Additional restrictions apply to dependents serving in the armed forces or living overseas.

5 Eligibility for portability through the Continuation of Insurance with Premium Payment provision may be subject to certain eligibility requirements and limitations. For more information, contact your MetLife representative.

METLIFE’S HOSPITAL INDEMNITY INSURANCE IS A LIMITED BENEFIT GROUP INSURANCE POLICY. The policy is not intended to be a substitute for medical coverage and certain states may require the insured to have medical coverage to enroll for the coverage. The policy or its provisions may vary or be unavailable in some states. There is a preexisting condition limitation for hospital sickness benefits. MetLife’s Hospital Indemnity Insurance may be subject to benefit reductions that begin at age 65. And, like most group accident and health insurance policies, policies offered by MetLife may contain certain exclusions, limitations and terms for keeping them in force. For complete details of coverage and availability, please refer to the group policy form GPNP12-AX or GPNP13-HI or contact MetLife. Benefits are underwritten by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, New York. In certain states, availability of MetLife’s Group Hospital Indemnity Insurance is pending regulatory approval.