How to Obtain Hospitalization Insurance

Hospitalization plans are health insurance plans that only cover stays in the hospital. The advantage of a hospital plan is that they typically have low monthly premiums and cover you in the event of a catastrophic emergency. Although hospital plans are usually through private insurance carriers, the medical underwriting is sometimes less stringent than other plans, meaning you can sometimes get on them if you have preexisting conditions. The downside is that hospital plans often do not cover doctor visits or medications. If you know what you are getting into, a hospital plan can be a cheap, yet useful way of insuring yourself. Obtaining a hospital plan is a fairly simple process.

Instructions

Acquiring a Hospital Plan

• 1

  Identify an insurance carrier and plan that you like. Contact either the carrier or a licensed insurance agent to help you through this process. Another good idea is to call your local hospital to make sure they accept your carrier. This won't be a huge problem since most hospital plans are PPOs, which give you the flexibility of going to any hospital that accepts the carrier. Still, its good to know if hospital of your preference accepts the insurance. With private insurance carriers, a hospital plan is usually called a basic plan. The best hospital plan is one with a deductible of around $2,500. If you can find one less with decent coverage, go for it, but don't go for a higher deductible unless there are extra benefits available.

• 2

  Complete an application and submit the first month's premium so the insurance will take effect immediately if you are accepted. Hospital plans generally have less stringent underwriting than plans where the insurance carrier pays more, so you may have a shot even if you have preexisting conditions. Still, if you are on expensive medications, are a surgical candidate, or have a major condition, your chances are still low to be accepted even on a hospital plan.

• 3

  Consider upgrading to a more beneficial plan if the carrier accepts your application. A positive aspect of a hospital plan is that if the carrier accepts you, you can request a coverage upgrade if you don't have any claims over a period of time. If you are denied, speak to your agent about what other options might be available.