What is covered under Hospitalization Benefit

Hospitalization benefit comes into picture when you have to go through many tests and treatments and do not notice any improvement in your health condition. These days, medical expenses are not just restricted to the hospital but also follow you home after discharge. However, you need not worry as many health insurance policies cover all such expenses.

Hospitalization covers pre-hospitalization and post-hospitalization expenses. Pre-hospitalization expenses are those which are incurred before you get admitted to a hospital for any inpatient treatment. Here is the list of expenses which are considered to be a part of the pre-hospitalization expenses under hospitalization benefits:

• Medical Tests
• Medicines
• Vaccinations
• Doctors’ fees

Post-hospitalization expenses, under hospitalization benefit, are also referred to as ‘recuperation expenses’. These are the medical expenses that the insured has to incur to regain his original condition as pre-illness or pre-injury.

Pre- and post-hospitalization expenses are covered under hospitalization benefits if the below-mentioned conditions are met:

• The insurer accepts the claim related to hospitalization expenses
• The expenses are incurred for the same disease or illness for which the hospitalization benefit is claimed
• The expenses are incurred within the time limits defined by the insurer:
  • Pre-hospitalization time limit is 30 to 60 days before hospitalization
  • Post-hospitalization time limit is 60 to 90 days after hospitalization
• The claim is for inpatient treatment and not for domiciliary hospitalization