What Is Full Hospital Health Insurance?

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.