Hospital Care Insurance provides you with a cash benefit you can use to help pay expenses when you have a covered hospital stay.

If you’ve ever been hospitalized, then you already know that your major medical insurance may not pay all of your medical expenses. Whatever remains is what you’ll be expected to pay on your own. Deductibles, copays, out-of-network charges, and other uncovered expenses can add up to big bills, even for a short hospital stay.

That’s where Hospital Care Insurance comes in handy. You can use the cash benefit you receive from this policy to help you cover not just bills related to your medical care, but any other expenses as well.

• Pays a benefit for you to use however you want
• The payment is made directly to you (unless otherwise assigned)
• It can help pay out-of-pocket expenses related to medical care associated with covered accidents
• In addition to medical care, you may use it to pay for things like childcare, lodging, or over-the-counter medication

You can collect this benefit regardless of whatever coverage you have, including your employer’s major medical plan, any other type of medical coverage, disability insurance, or other benefits you may be eligible to collect. However, it is NOT a substitute for these coverages and does not meet minimum essential coverage as defined by federal law. 

Since you have the freedom and flexibility to choose how you spend your benefit payment, you can use it to help pay for anything you want. Even use it to help pay regular living expenses such as grocery bills, mortgage payments, childcare, and transportation – all of which could become a concern if you lose income while you’re in the hospital.

Instead of turning to your savings or taking on credit card debt to pay those medical bills, you can use the cash you receive from this policy to help pay them. That means less time spent worrying about money and more time spent focused on getting well again.

These are the periods when you are eligible to enroll for Hospital Care Insurance:

1. Within your new hire enrollment period
2. If you have a qualifying life event (you get married, have a baby, etc.)
3. During your employer’s annual enrollment

Check with your employer’s human resources/benefits team for specifics about these timeframes.

Keep in mind: If you enroll during these timeframes, you have what is called "guaranteed issue," which means you may qualify for Hospital Care Insurance without answering health questions. You must have insurance in place before an accident happens in order to be eligible to collect the benefit when you need it. 

These form(s) are in Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF) format and are available for downloading and printing.

Hospital Care Insurance Benefit Summary

How to File a Claim

Make the Most of Your Cigna Plan