A lot of policyholders still believe that health insurance claims are approved only if a patient is hospitalized for at least 24 hours. Even if they know that shorter stays might be covered, many are still confused about the specific situations and medical emergencies that allow claims before hitting that 24-hour mark.
That said, not every brief hospital visit qualifies for a claim. Coverage usually depends on whether the treatment is medically necessary, included in the policy and meets the insurer’s conditions.
So, when can you actually file a health insurance claim for a hospital stay of less than 24 hours? Here’s what policyholders should be aware of:
Can you file health insurance claims for a hospital stay of less than 24 hours?
According to insurance experts, policyholders can still be eligible for claims even if they haven’t spent a full day in the hospital.
“Yes, health insurance claims can be made for less than 24 hours hospitalization provided the procedure falls under day care treatment approved by the insurer,” says Sarita Joshi, Head of Health and Life Insurance, Probus.
Earlier, 24-hours of hospitaliztion was needed for claims; however owing to the advanced technology, many treatments can now be covered in a few hours and hence covered if they are medically necessary & mentioned in the policy, she adds.
Moreover, standard health insurance covers accidental emergencies as well. If you are rushed to the ER after an accident, many policies cover the stabilization and immediate treatment, even if you aren’t admitted overnight, says Siddharth Singhal, Head of Health Insurance, Policybazaar.
