Hospital Indemnity | Nationwide

Hospital Indemnity | Nationwide
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Supplemental Hospital Insurance

Helps you pay for out-of-pocket expenses that result from a covered hospital stay.
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Here's what you need to know

Supplemental Hospital Insurance from Nationwide® 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 Supplemental Hospital 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
  • 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 elect this benefit in addition to other 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 enroll in. However, it is NOT health insurance and does not satisfy the requirement of minimum essential coverage under federal law.

A hospital stay can be costly to your finances in 2 ways:

 

  • Medical bills. After being admitted, you have expenses for each day you’re in the hospital – and even a short stay can end up being costly. In addition to the stay itself, treatments, tests, and surgery can add to the cost.
  • Lost wages. Each day in the hospital could mean taking time out of work, or a family member may take time away from their job to help support you. If this impacts the paycheck that your family relies on, you may need to dig into savings or even borrow money. Supplemental Hospital Insurance helps alleviate these worries.

 

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 Supplemental Hospital Insurance:

 

  1. Within your 30-day new hire enrollment period
  2. Within 60 days of a qualifying life event (you get married, have a baby, etc.)
  3. During your employer’s open enrollment

 

This is group insurance offered at group rates. Your premium is conveniently deducted from your paycheck. See the below Rate Chart.

 

Supplemental Hospital Insurance Rates

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

 

Supplemental Hospital Insurance Certificate

 

Supplemental Hospital Insurance Flyer

 

Supplemental Hospital Insurance Portability Form

How It Works

Number one Enroll now icon

You enroll in Supplemental Hospital Insurance

Number two Hospital icon

After it’s in effect, you have a hospital stay due to covered accident or sickness

Number three Paperwork icon

Submit a claim form

Number four Giving cash icon

Once approved, you will get paid and you can use your money however you want

You’re admitted to a hospital for a covered accident or sickness.

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That’s when Supplemental Hospital Insurance comes in.

Because you have Supplemental Hospital Insurance, you get a cash payment you can use for any expenses you want – medical or not.

Frequently Asked Questions

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  • What is Supplemental Hospital Insurance?

    Supplemental Hospital coverage provides you with a payment for each day you or your covered dependent are confined to a hospital, due to an injury or illness, to a max of 30 days. An amount of $300 per day is paid for each day of inpatient hospital stay or $600 per day for confinement in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or Critical Care Unit (CCU).

     

    Payments are made directly to you to use as you see fit. They can be used to help pay for medical plan deductibles and copays, for out-of-network stays, for your family’s everyday living expenses, or for whatever else you need while recuperating from an illness or injury.

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  • When is a benefit paid under the plan?
    Once your coverage is effective, you’ll receive benefits for a covered hospitalization. These benefits vary by state and may have other limitations and exclusions that may affect what’s payable. Refer to the plan certificate for complete details.
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  • Who in my family is eligible for this insurance?

    Members of your family who are considered eligible to enroll for insurance include:

    • You — if you are an active associate working a minimum of 19.375 hours per week and Actively at Work on your effective date of insurance.1 Benefits terminate at the end of the calendar year in which you turn 70.
    • Your spouse — Age 18-70. Benefits terminate at the end of the calendar year in which the spouse turns age 70.
    • Your child(ren) — newborn to age 26. Benefits terminate at the end of the calendar year in which the child turns age 26.

     

    You must be enrolled in coverage for members of your family to also enroll. 

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  • I have a good medical plan through work. Why do I need Supplemental Hospital Insurance?
    Even quality medical plans can leave you with unexpected expenses to pay when you are hospitalized. Costs like plan deductibles, copays and coinsurance 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. If you have an HSA, you can use your supplemental hospital benefits to pay for out of pocket medical expenses and save your HSA funds for future use. Having extra financial support if the time comes may mean less worry for you and your family, and will give you the ability to protect your savings and focus on your recovery.
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  • Do I have to answer health questions or take a medical exam?

    No, you don’t. Your Supplemental Hospital Insurance is guaranteed issue, which means no medical questions or tests are required to enroll in this coverage. Pre-existing condition limitations may apply.
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  • Am I eligible for coverage if I have an existing medical condition?
    A pre-existing limitation does apply to the plan. If you received a diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice for an illness or injury during the 6 consecutive months preceding your effective date of coverage, no benefits are payable for this illness or injury during the first 12 months of coverage.
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  • What if my employment status changes?

    If you (the associate) terminate employment for reasons other than disability or retirement, you may be eligible to continue your and your covered dependents’ coverage under the portability provision. To elect portability, you and your covered dependents must be under the age of 65 and have been covered under the Supplemental Hospital plan for at least 12 months. You must elect the portability provision for yourself in order for your dependents to be covered. To apply for the portability provision, please contact Member Services at 877-717-4455.
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  • How do I file a claim?
    You can file a claim online at yourbenefits.nationwide.com. Only one claim submission is needed per admission or hospital stay and claims are generally processed within 10 business days.
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  • Are benefits paid directly to me or to my health care provider?
    For maximum convenience, payments will be paid directly to you, not to the doctors, hospitals, or other health care providers. There is no coordination of benefits with any other insurance, which means you will receive the full benefit payment of the plan regardless of any other coverage you may have.
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  • Am I really free to use the payment any way I choose?

    Yes, you are! There are no restrictions or requirements about how you can use your hospital cash benefit. You don’t even need to use it on expenses you incur while you’re IN the hospital – you can also use it for expenses after you’re discharged. You’re free to use this money on anything you choose, including out-of-pocket medical expenses and/or non-medical expenses such as regular monthly bills if you’re out of work. 

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  • Legal Disclaimers

    1Actively at Work means that you are performing services for Nationwide Insurance, or its affiliate, for any portion of the scheduled work day or using Your Time. Actively at Work does not include periods when you are on emergency leave, Leave of Absence, military leave (unless otherwise required by USERRA), unpaid leave, or other similar absence, whether paid or unpaid. In addition, Actively at Work does not include any period of time when you are on “unassigned” status, as defined by Nationwide’s formal policy, unless the individual is scheduled to work at least 19.375 hours per week during the duration of the unassigned status period. Further, if you are participating in a partial return-to-work program, you will not be considered Actively at Work, even if you perform services for Nationwide for a portion of the day.

     

    Coverage is not available for associates residing in the state of Minnesota.

     

    This is an outline of benefits. Limitations and exclusions apply. Please refer to the Certificate of Coverage for more details.

     

    The product is underwritten by Nationwide Life Insurance Company, Columbus, Ohio. Supplemental Hospital coverage is applicable to policy form GHOI AO L20 000 1114.

    Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle and Nationwide is on your side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2024 Nationwide NSM-0354AO.2 (09/24)

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