Do I need a Hospital Indemnity Plan if I have Medicare Advantage? What if I am hospitalized twice in the same year?

Question

Rebecca Bilbrey · Accepted Answer

A hospital indemnity plan to work with your Medicare Advantage plan is a good idea. Your Medicare Advantage plan will have daily copays (or at least per-stay copays) and the hospital indemnity plan can pay those for you. Most policies will pay more than once in a year as long as you have been out of the hospital for a set amount of days (differs per policy) before needing to go back in the hospital. Hospital indemnity policy premiums are usually inexpensive.

Answered by Rebecca Bilbrey on April 17, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX, AL, CO & 6 other states

Answered by Rebecca Bilbrey Medicare Insurance Agent

Daniel Brechin · Answer

No,  a Medicare Advantage plan covers everything.   The co-pays vary with each company.
Daniel Brechin .
Contact me.

Christopher Boyd · Answer

Hospital Indemnity plans are not always available for all applicants due to health qualification questions. They are also not necessary if a person has both Medicaid and Medicare Advantage assuming they are seeing providers which accept both plans. But yes, if you have a hospital indemnity plan and are hospitalized, the plan should provide coverage per hospital stay. Each policy will have guidelines and limitations on how it pays per hospital stay.

Answered by Christopher Boyd on May 25, 2026

Agent Licensed in IN, KY, MI, OH, PA & TN

Answered by Christopher Boyd Medicare Insurance Agent

Mark Maliwauki · Answer

It is a great benefit especially if you know you are going to spend time in the hospital in the future.

The Hospital Indemnity plans will refund the cost of your days in the hospital and most do that 4x per year i.e. every 3 months.

There are some very good plans to consider from well known plan providers.

Bill Wheeler · Answer

If you have a regular Medicare advantage plan
(No Medicaid) you will have some copays after being in the hospital. The indemnity plan will pick up the cost of those.
And that is what I did. Without Medicaid you will need some extra help and the indemnity plan will do that.

Clarence &quot;Mark&quot; Christiansen · Answer

You don't need it but it is highly recommended. If you're paying $ 0 for your Advantage plan, why wouldn't you get the added protection offered by a Hospital Indemnity plan? I have this myself and have never used it. Is that a bad thing? I say, no, it's a good thing. The best insurance of all is the plan you have never used which means you have never suffered a loss. Insurance is all about "what if," isn't that the case? Insurance such as hospital indemnity coverage will be there for you if you need it. I like to package the plan with a cancer benefit rider and a physical therapy benefit add-on, too. The coverage is low cost and will come to the rescue when / if something goes wrong. Alternatively, don't buy the indemnity plan, take your chances and keep your fingers crossed!

Steven Graves · Answer

In many cases, yes, a Hospital Indemnity Plan can be a valuable add-on if you have a Medicare Advantage plan. Here's why:

 Why?
Medicare Advantage plans often come with daily copays for hospital stays—for example:

$300 per day for the first 5 days of inpatient care

$0 after day 6
That’s up to $1,500 per hospital stay just in copays, not including ambulance, rehab, or observation status costs.

A Hospital Indemnity Plan pays you a cash benefit (often $100–$500 per day) when you're admitted to the hospital. You can use that money to cover:

Hospital copays

Transportation

Lost income (if you're helping a spouse or family)

Other out-of-pocket costs

 What If You’re Hospitalized Twice in One Year?
Here’s where a Hospital Indemnity Plan really pays off:

Medicare Advantage plans charge you copays each time you're hospitalized.

A good indemnity plan will pay benefits for each separate hospital stay (as long as they're separated by a specific number of days—usually 60, but it depends on the plan).

That could mean double the financial burden from your Advantage plan—but also double the benefit from your indemnity plan, if structured correctly.

 When It Makes Sense to Add It
Your Medicare Advantage plan has high inpatient hospital copays

You’re concerned about unexpected hospitalization costs

You’re on a fixed income and want predictable, prepaid protection

You’ve had hospital stays in the past or have a chronic condition

Want Help Deciding?
It’s best to review the exact details of your Medicare Advantage plan and compare them to the indemnity plan benefits available in your state. Plans and payouts can vary significantly.

Would you like help reviewing your Advantage plan and seeing how an indemnity plan might fill the gaps? I can help guide that process.

Call us, we are here to help

Steven Graves

Steven Lovell · Answer

It's not required but a Hospital Indemnity Plan can be a valuable addition to Medicare Advantage. It can help cover out-of-pocket expenses during hospital stays. If you're hospitalized twice in the same year, a Hospital Indemnity Plan can still provide benefits, as it typically pays a set amount per day of hospitalization, regardless of the number of hospitalizations.

Answered by Steven Lovell on May 11, 2025

Broker Licensed in GA, AL, CA & 11 other states

Answered by Steven Lovell Medicare Insurance Agent

William Gray · Answer

It's not necessary but you could face pretty high out of pocket costs.

Advantage plans have deductibles and copays. The indemnity plan pays you a set amount by plan

Donnie Vermillion · Answer

With a Medicare Advantage Plan if you have a stay in the hospital, you will have a hospital copay usually days 1-5. These copays can be very costly as much as $350 a day depending on the plan. 

A hospital indemnity plan can help mitigate some of the risk by cutting you a check for your hospital stay. You can get a high plan or a low plan depending on your desired benefit amount. High plan around $50 a month and low plan around $30 a month. 

Depending on the plan there may be a 60 day requirement before the plan will pay twice. This means staying out of the hospital for at least 60 days. 

But, if its been a bad year health wise and you have already met your "MOOP" maximum out of pocket for your advantage plan. You are going to pocket that indemnity plan check, and actually make a profit.

Andrew Firmin · Answer

Do I need to have a hospital indemnity plan if I have a Medicare Advantage plan? What happens is, from hospital stays multiple times throughout the year, I always recommend that if you're on a Medicare Advantage plan, you also include a hospital indemnity plan and a cancer plan. Here's why: under a hospital stay, your Advantage plan may have a high cost-sharing, a couple hundred dollars for the first five, six, or seven days. Whatever your plan's design is, that will often lead to, especially if you have multiple hospitalizations, you hitting the plan's maximum out-of-pocket.

In my view, Medicare is the intersection of your health coverage and financial wellness. And for that reason, under a Medicare Advantage plan, we want to help protect your financial wellness by marrying the plan or adding additional coverage such as a hospital indemnity plan and even a lump sum cancer plan. It's all about protecting your financial wellness and protecting your out-of-pocket and retirement savings. I hope that provides some clarity. Until next time, be healthy and be well.

Stella Hattox · Answer

I highly recommend one.  It depends on the plan you get. Some plans cover up to three or four admissions a year.

You’re welcome to contact and I can run you a quote. 

Stella
Contact me.

Rodney Powell · Answer

Advantage plans have a maximum out-of-pocket limit, which helps cap your hospital and outpatient medical costs.

If you don’t have enough in personal savings or an HSA, a hospital indemnity and catastrophic illness policy can be a good safety net.

These policies usually pay per hospital stay, so two hospitalizations in one year are typically covered, BUT always check the details of any plan before signing up.

Duane Everding · Answer

I always tell my clients that it depends on your comfort level with an unplanned out of pocket expense for a hospital stay. Review your inpatient copay amount and add up to see how much a one-week hospital stay will cost out of pocket. If this cost is higher than your budget or savings can support, it's a good idea to enroll in an indemnity plan. Hospital indemnity plans generally reset after 60 days, so it's possible to collect on an indemnity policy more multiple times per year. This can be used to cover out of pocket expenses for yourself, a family member or friend that's helping you.

Answered by Duane Everding on February 2, 2026

Broker Licensed in NC, AZ, MD & 6 other states

Answered by Duane Everding Medicare Insurance Agent

Antonio Espino · Answer

1. Do you need a Hospital Indemnity Plan... No. You don't need it at all. But it would cover the gaps in your Medicare advantage plan. Hospital Indemnity will cover the hospital stays as well as outpatient services, and emergency room visits. You can add other coverages like a cancer policy as well. 

But do you need it... no. Will it help... Yes.

2. If you have a hospital indemnity plan and you are hospitalized twice, then the policy will pay you (however the way the policy was set up. I.E per day or lump sum). If you don't have a HI plan, then you just pay the Medicare advantage copays.

Steven Bleicher · Answer

Unless you or your family have a history of officially being hospitalized, you may be needlessly worried about double occurrences in one year. However, since Hospital Indemnity Plans are worth it in my opinion, ask your agent if they can provide coverage for more than once a year? There also is a rule where Medicare breaks up the calendar year into six periods or 60 days each. What that means is: if you are re-admitted to the same hospital after being released within that same 60 day period, that second admission may be automatically covered. But, be sure to check on that!

Answered by Steven Bleicher on June 8, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ

Answered by Steven Bleicher Medicare Insurance Agent

Andrew Zurbuch, MBA · Answer

It depends. Hospital Indemnity coverage is good. Look at your Maximum Out Of Pocket, M.O.O.P., on your Medicare Advantage plan and see if you can pay that amount. If you cannot, then a Hospital Indemnity plan would assist you in paying the large Copays from inpatient hospitalization stay. Please be aware, even if you stay in the hospital overnight, you might still be considered an outpatient. Check with the hospital staff. Please consult with a Licensed Broker. Thank you. 

Plans are insured or covered by a Medicare Advantage (HMO, PPO and PFFS) organization with a Medicare contract and/or a Medicare-approved Part D sponsor. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

Diana Garner · Answer

A hospital indemnity plan is a great way to cover out-of-pocket costs when hospitalized, as it pays a cash benefit directly to you. This money can be used for deductibles, copays, and other expenses.

Hospital indemnity plans usually have a reset period, so they can be used more than once in a year, and your second stay will be covered as well.

Jim Tretola · Answer

It might be a very good idea to help protect you from thousands of dollars out of your pocket, especially if you have an Advantage Plan.

Leslie Kaz · Answer

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you may still consider a Hospital Indemnity plan because most MA plans charge a per-day copay for inpatient hospital stays. That means if you’re admitted, you’ll owe the daily copay amount outlined in your plan’s Summary of Benefits. If you are hospitalized twice in the same year, you would typically pay that copay structure twice, since each admission is treated separately. A Hospital Indemnity plan pays you a fixed cash benefit per day (or per stay), which you can use to offset those out-of-pocket costs. It isn’t required, and it really comes down to whether you could comfortably absorb multiple hospital copays in a year. If those costs would create financial strain, an indemnity plan can provide a cushion.

Answered by Leslie Kaz on February 18, 2026

Agent Licensed in CA, AL, AZ & 7 other states

Answered by Leslie Kaz Medicare Insurance Agent

Frank Carta · Answer

Medicare plans have a deductible that is required for hospital stays. Your deductible is
valid for up to 60 days.

If you are re-admitted to the hospital in 60 days, your deductible may still be valid.

People get Hospital Indemnity Plans because the plan pays you direct, separately from
your medical bills. It may come in handy if you have a hospital stay.

Priscilla Ramos · Answer

Not required, but it can help with out-of-pocket costs. Medicare Advantage plans have daily hospital copays, so a Hospital Indemnity plan can pay you cash to offset those. If you’re hospitalized twice: Most indemnity plans pay benefits for each separate stay (based on the policy limits).

Answered by Priscilla Ramos on April 14, 2026

Agent Licensed in OH, AZ, FL & 5 other states

Answered by Priscilla Ramos Medicare Insurance Agent

Vernon Jones · Answer

You do not legally need a hospital indemnity plan, but it is a valuable tool to help cover high out-of-pocket costs (copays/deductibles) in Medicare Advantage plans. If you are hospitalized twice, these plans can pay you cash directly, helping bridge the financial gap, especially for long or multiple stays in one year

Answered by Vernon Jones on May 11, 2026

Broker Licensed in NC & SC

Answered by Vernon Jones Medicare Insurance Agent

Hannah Skinner · Answer

A hospital indemnity plan is a great way to cover some of the gaps in your Medicare Advantage plan. Hospital copays can reach up to $3000/stay. If you area discharged and go back the next week, this number will reset. 

Most hospital indemnity plans reset after a 30-60 benefit period. This means that it can be used upwards of 6 times a year.

Thomas Magnus, RHU · Answer

Some people enroll in a Hospital Indemnity Plan as a hedge against Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug(MAPD) Plan Inpatient Hospital Copays.  Most plans DO impose a copay for the first 4 to 6 days and can be anywhere from $50/day up to $250 or more per day - usually with a 3-5 day limit per inpatient hospitalization. These copays are not standardized among MAPD plans but can add up to a moderate 4 figure amount. 

Hospital indemnity plans are supplemental insurance policies designed to help cover unexpected costs associated with hospital stays. Here are some key points:
Coverage: These plans typically pay a lump-sum benefit for covered medical expenses, including deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket costs not covered by primary health insurance. 

Flexibility: Benefits can be used for various expenses, such as childcare, transportation, and recovery costs, providing financial relief during hospital stays. 

Multiple Claims: Many hospital indemnity plans allow for multiple claims, enabling you to use the benefits for different hospitalizations or treatments as needed. 

No Waiting Period: With some plans, there is no waiting period for claims, allowing you to access benefits quickly. 

Portability: These plans can often be portable, meaning you can take coverage with you if you change jobs or move. 

Contact me for more detailed information

Gus Karigan · Answer

Having an indemnity plan would make sense as many advantage plans have higher out of pocket costs and higher deductibles.  An indemnity plan would help pick up those costs and is very affordable.

Nick Sarant · Answer

I WOULD RECOMMEND ONE. IT COVERS YOU OUT OF POCKET COSTS AND ITS AFFORDABLE. I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU LOOK INTO ONE.

Mary Salmon · Answer

A Medicare Advantage plan requires Medicare beneficiaries to pay copays for many services including in-patient hospitalization. A hospital indemnity plan can provide financial assistance by paying you a specified amount for each day you are admitted to the hospital, up to the maximum benefit period you have chosen when selecting your hospital plan.

Answered by Mary Salmon on April 23, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX & OK

Answered by Mary Salmon Medicare Insurance Agent

Mal Varlack · Answer

If you don’t want to expose yourself to potentially paying the Max out of pocket on a plan, or exposing yourself to paying a $200 some odd daily skilled nursing benefit after the 20th day of rehab or other copays that may hurt financially and emotionally to pay; then YES. I would highly recommend taking out a Hospital Indemnity Plan to offset expenditures you are subjected to pay in the Medicare Advantage Plan. Namely the 2 expenses I mentioned but there are others: cancer meds administered in hospital, as an outpatient or doctors office; ambulance rides are not free either. Hospital Indemnity Plans can be structured to cover some or all of the out of pocket costs of these as well. Even if you go twice a year. They pay you directly and some are what are called Guarantee Issue. That means depending on the carrier and your age you don’t have to answer health questions to qualify.

Answered by Mal Varlack on April 17, 2025

Broker Licensed in FL, AZ, GA & 11 other states

Answered by Mal Varlack Medicare Insurance Agent

Christopher Garcia · Answer

Many people choose hospital indemnity plans to help them cover the cost of hospital stays and some other services that can be added to a hospital indemnity policy. Policies may differ, but typically you have a given benefit which you select the time of the application? It is very important to ask the agent or to review the policy documents so that you will know how your coverage works. If you have a six day benefit and you have a three day hospital stay you typically still have the remaining three days of coverage to be used during the policy period. For a detailed explanation of how this works, I would reach out to a professional licensed agent. Hospital indemnity plans can be customized and it’s important to have guidance when selecting a plan.

Answered by Christopher Garcia on June 15, 2026

Broker Licensed in NM, AZ, CO & TX

Answered by Christopher Garcia Medicare Insurance Agent

Kim Gibas · Answer

As a Medicare agent, I can help you determine if a Hospital Indemnity plan is right for you. 

We’ll evaluate your health care needs and financial situation to see if this plan is suitable for you, especially if you have a history of frequent hospital stays.

 I’m here to guide you in comparing options and ensuring you understand how a Hospital Indemnity plan fits into your Medicare strategy.

Feel free to reach out for a consultation to ensure you have the right coverage!

Fred Manas · Answer

While Medicare Advantage plans generally cover hospital stays, a hospital indemnity plan can offer additional protection, particularly if you're concerned about potential out-of-pocket costs or a second hospitalization in the same year. Hospital indemnity plans provide a cash benefit for each day of hospitalization, which you can use to cover expenses like co-pays, deductibles, or other costs not covered by your Medicare Advantage plan. 
Here's a more detailed look:
Medicare Advantage Coverage:
Medicare Advantage plans cover most hospital stays as part of their benefits package, similar to Medicare Part A. 
Potential for Out-of-Pocket Costs:
Despite coverage, you may still have co-pays, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket expenses for hospital stays, especially with some Medicare Advantage plans. 
Hospital Indemnity as a Supplement:
Hospital indemnity plans can help fill these gaps by providing a cash benefit for each day in the hospital. 
Second Hospitalization:
If you are hospitalized again within the same year, your Medicare Advantage plan might start a new benefit period, meaning you could incur another deductible and co-pays. A hospital indemnity plan would likely continue to provide benefits during the second hospitalization as well. 
How it Works:
Hospital indemnity plans generally have no deductibles or pre-certification requirements, making it easy to access the benefits when needed. 
Choosing a Plan:
You can customize your hospital indemnity plan by choosing the benefit amount and the maximum benefit period to match your needs and budget. 
In essence, a hospital indemnity plan can provide an extra layer of financial protection alongside your Medicare Advantage coverage, particularly if you're concerned about potential out-of-pocket costs or the possibility of multiple hospitalizations in a year.

Vachik Chakhbazian · Answer

Yes, you may still need a hospital indemnity plan even with Medicare Advantage, as it can help cover out-of-pocket costs like copays and deductibles for hospital stays. If you are hospitalized multiple times in a year, the hospital indemnity plan can help manage the cumulative financial impact, especially if your Medicare Advantage plan has cost-sharing requirements that reset with each new benefit period.

Answered by Vachik Chakhbazian on July 29, 2025

Agent Licensed in CA, AL, AR & 22 other states

Answered by Vachik Chakhbazian Medicare Insurance Agent

Andrew Kramer · Answer

Your Medicare Advantage plan covers you each time you are in the hospital, at the co-pays of your plan. Without knowing your hospital co-pays, it's not possible to answer your question, and it also depends on the cost of the hospital indemnity plan. But generally speaking, such plans are not needed for those on Advantage plans. Those are usually taken by under-65'ers who have very large out-of-pockets for a hospitalization.

Answered by Andrew Kramer on May 4, 2026

Agent Licensed in FL

Answered by Andrew Kramer Medicare Insurance Agent

Meghan Blankenship · Answer

You don't need a Hospital Indemnity plan if you  have Medicare Advantage - but it can help cover out-of-pocket costs, especially if you're hospitalized more than once in a year.

Pat Papson · Answer

Hello.. usually not, but depending on your plan, you may have some co-pays until your out-of-pocket expenses are met. The number of hospital visits doesn't matter; it's your out-of-pocket that does..

I personally have carried an Aflac policy that I've had for years, and there is some hospital coverage on that plan

You can check with your local Agent.

Hope this helps

Carol Conner · Answer

It may be beneficial to get one to help with costs for expenses once you have used your allowed benefits. You can build a policy to fit your needs and costs anywhere between $25-50 but can be as much as $400 depending on how much you think you’ll need. it’s a cash benefit to pay for hospital, out patient, ER, etc., or you can use it for other things such as rent, groceries, etc.

Answered by Carol Conner on October 19, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX

Answered by Carol Conner Medicare Insurance Agent

Karen Ansell · Answer

It is not mandatory that you sign up for a hospital indemnity plan that pay for hospital stays.
It is an option. However I like them. they are inexpensive and can pay some of the highest copays that you have with a Medicare Advantage plan. Depending on the plan they can pay for the hospital copays, emergency room, rehab, and a benefit for cancer normally a flat benefit amount.

Jaye Maxx Alexander II · Answer

You don't need a hospital Indemnity Plan, but I strongly encourage you to have one. With an MA or MAPD plan, you will have costs associated with your hospital stay that can place a huge financial burden upon you and your family.

Answered by Jaye Maxx Alexander II on April 21, 2025

Broker Licensed in NC, AK, AL & 47 other states

Answered by Jaye Maxx Alexander II Medicare Insurance Agent

Lillian Hill · Answer

Strongly recommended! A hospital admission can tally up into a sizeable amount in out-of-pocket costs with Co-pays, coinsurance and deductibles. The right Hospital Indemnity plan can ensure that these costs can be managed more comfortably and predictably. Hospital Indemnity plans can be a great way to add more protection and financial safeguards for peace of mind.

Answered by Lillian Hill on November 14, 2025

Broker Licensed in OH, CO, GA & MI

Answered by Lillian Hill Medicare Insurance Agent

Adam Morillo · Answer

Although it's not mandatory it is highly recommended to have a hospital indemnity plan to cover the high out of pocket per day amount for hospital stays. A lot of carriers offer different plans and budgets to fit your Medicare Advantage plan. Some plans cover unlimited visits for different injuries or sickness or there are 60 days between admissions for the same covered injury
or illness.

Chad Hardy · Answer

A Hospital Indemnity Plan isn’t required if you have a Medicare Advantage plan, but it can be very helpful protection.

Most Medicare Advantage plans have daily copays for hospital stays, and those are often the highest out-of-pocket costs you’ll face. For example, it’s common to see copays of several hundred dollars per day for the first few days of a hospitalization.

If you’re hospitalized twice in the same year, those copays typically reset with each new hospital admission, which can add up quickly.

A Hospital Indemnity Plan pays you a cash benefit when you’re hospitalized, which you can use to help cover those copays or any other expenses. It provides an extra layer of financial protection and peace of mind, especially for those enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.

It’s not necessary for everyone, but many people choose to have one to help reduce their financial exposure in the event of a hospital stay.

Larry Pereiro · Answer

A strong argument for Hospital Indemnity plans is that offset your out of pocket cost for hospital, lump sum cancer and skilled nursing facility stays. The cost of these three benefits in a typical Hospital Indemnity can be acquired for about the 3rd of the cost of a Medigap policy. In essence, a Medicare Advantage plan with a Hospital Indemnity plan produces what I call a Hybrid Medigap policy.

Answered by Larry Pereiro on June 2, 2025

Agent Licensed in IN

Answered by Larry Pereiro Medicare Insurance Agent

Robert Nunn · Answer

There are some identifiable gaps in a MaPD . The first days in hospital can add up. Please look at your policy and see the benefit limits and you can get a small policy to fill those in. One strategy could be for a mapd with a give back benefit and use a portion of that to fill in the gaps to limit your out of pocket expenses.

Answered by Robert Nunn on May 2, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL, AL, AR & 36 other states

Answered by Robert Nunn Medicare Insurance Agent

Deborah Kemp · Answer

It depends on how much you are hospitalized if an Advantage or Hospital Idemnity plan would be a good option for you.

Tony Merwin · Answer

If you feel like the hospital copayments and / or annual maximum out of pocket are above your budget, it is worth comparing. A hospital indemnity plan doesn't add new benefits, but helps cover the copayments you experience when using the hospital benefits of your MA plan.

Answered by Tony Merwin on August 18, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX, AL, AR & 29 other states

Answered by Tony Merwin Medicare Insurance Agent

Al Saponar · Answer

Yes.
It is recommended to have a hospital indemnity plan along with a Medicare Advantage plan. 
There are several companies offering Hospital Indemnity plans that we have available.

Silvana Peacock · Answer

Medicare Advantage plans usually charge you a daily copay if you're admitted to the hospital, and those costs can add up if it happens more than once in a year. A Hospital Indemnity Plan can give you extra cash benefits to help cover those expenses, so it's meant to provide extra protection, not replace your Advantage plan.

Answered by Silvana Peacock on September 29, 2025

Broker Licensed in FL, MI, NC, NJ, SC & VA

Answered by Silvana Peacock Medicare Insurance Agent

Sean Macbean · Answer

Hospital Indemnity plans can be selected from 3 to 31 days. The dollar values are $50 - $600 per day. 

Most people select (6 days) at ($600 per day) or a $3,600 reimbursement directly to the insured. ( 5 days hospitalization and 1 day to pay for years premium)

If you use up the 6 days in a year, you are responsible for those as out of pocket costs. Your days should be selected by health history, family genes, and doctors input. 

Do yourself a favor; more is better than not enough. Nobody likes paying these OOP costs.

Frankie Cochran · Answer

There are Copayments that are associated with Hospitalization. Hospital Indemnity Plans can pay those copayments for you. this is especially helpful if you are hospitalized more that once in a year.

Matthew Moreno · Answer

A hospital indemnity plan is meant to fill in the copays associated with hospital stays. You would be paying a relatively high copay per day in the hospital. I'd always recommend a hospital indemnity plan for my clients. However it is still in there own hands if they wish too.

Answered by Matthew Moreno on August 21, 2025

Broker Licensed in IL, AZ, FL, TX & VA

Answered by Matthew Moreno Medicare Insurance Agent

Michael Caldwell · Answer

Absolutely yes! MA can still leave you with some pretty good sized bills depending on your particular plan. A Hospital Indemnity plan can protect you against having to get heavily out of pocket, and they’re not super expensive. A good MA plan + a good Hospital Indemnity will fully protect you for less money than a Medicare Supplement Plan.

Answered by Michael Caldwell on October 27, 2025

Broker Licensed in IN, AL, AR & 31 other states

Answered by Michael Caldwell Medicare Insurance Agent

Stanley Wittenberg · Answer

The Hospital plan provides funds to help cover extra expenses. It can be used a number of times. No plan covers everything

Marta Iris González · Answer

A Hospital Indemnity Plan is not required if you have Medicare Advantage, but it can be helpful—especially if you want extra financial protection.

With a Medicare Advantage plan, hospital stays usually involve daily copays for each day you’re admitted (for example, days 1–5 or 1–7). These costs apply each time you are hospitalized.

A Hospital Indemnity Plan pays you a cash benefit when you are admitted to the hospital. You can use that money for hospital copays, deductibles, or other expenses like rent, utilities, or transportation.

If you are hospitalized twice in the same year:
	•	Your Medicare Advantage plan will generally charge hospital copays again for the second stay.
	•	A Hospital Indemnity Plan would typically pay benefits again for the second hospitalization, as long as it meets the plan’s rules (such as being a new admission).

Bottom line:
If you want help covering repeated hospital copays or added peace of mind for unexpected hospital stays, a Hospital Indemnity Plan can be a useful supplement—but it’s optional, not mandatory.

Anthony Albano · Answer

It’s personal choice.
I use one myself. Runs around $50 a month. When enrolled in a PPO plan, probably an indemnity would be a good idea because the co-pays are a little higher if your hospitalized period again that’s personal choice.

Velvet Ohlen · Answer

Yes, you do, and here’s why. No health insurance plan covers 100% of your medical costs unless you have both Medicare and Medicaid. If you only have Medicare, you will have cost-sharing. 

For example, many plans require a daily copay for a hospital stay. If the copay is $490 per day for Days 1–5, your total out-of-pocket cost for that inpatient stay would be $2,450.

A Hospital Indemnity Plan can help cover these expenses. Depending on the plan you choose, it can pay you a cash benefit to offset your out-of-pocket costs. Many Hospital Indemnity Plans are as low as $30–$40 per month.

I can help you find the right plan that fits both your needs and your budget.

Gregory Brown · Answer

5
Why Every Medicare Advantage Client Needs a Hospital Indemnity Plan
A Hospital Indemnity Plan is not required, but it can be a valuable addition to Medicare Advantage to cover out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and copayments. If you are hospitalized twice in the same year, the plan can still provide benefits, as it typically pays a set amount per day of hospitalization for each stay, but the specific benefits can depend on the plan's structure and the timing of the hospitalizations.

Alexander Lehn · Answer

A hospital indemnity plan is not required if you have a Medicare Advantage plan, but many people choose to have one. These types of plans pay a fixed amount to you if you are hospitalized so you can have any co-pays covered without worry. A cost-benefit analysis can be done to determine if the cost of coverage over 12 months is worth having to offset the potential costs associated with being hospitalized. Many people on a fixed income prefer to have this coverage so the costs are built into their budget and they don't have unexpected large bills associated with their healthcare, just a low monthly cost for the indemnity coverage.

Answered by Alexander Lehn on April 22, 2025

Agent Licensed in NV, CA, FL & TX

Answered by Alexander Lehn Medicare Insurance Agent

Stacy Cogar · Answer

A hospital indemnity is highly recommended to work with a MAPD plan. Depending on your state, hospital stays can range between $300+ per day, so an indemnity plan would cover those out of pocket expenses. With a Medicare Supplement plan this is not something that you would need however...

Answered by Stacy Cogar on May 6, 2026

Broker Licensed in OH, AL, AR & 32 other states

Answered by Stacy Cogar Medicare Insurance Agent

Manuel Sundiman · Answer

Yes, you should because hospital indemnity pays at least the first 10 days in cash to replace out of pocket costs that most Medicare Advantage plans do not cover.

Jason York · Answer

No a hospital plan is not required but highly recommended. Hospital plans can cover the wholes that’s Medicare advantage plans have. Yes you can use it twice a year and typically an unlimited number of times. Benefit renewal time is anywhere from 60 days to six months depending on the conpany and plan selected.

Answered by Jason York on October 25, 2025

Broker Licensed in FL, AL, AR & 17 other states

Answered by Jason York Medicare Insurance Agent

Jake Dalton · Answer

HI plans are a great way to cover those most expensive copayments that are in Advantage plans. From Hospitalization, ER, Ambulance, PT Therapy visits, cancer diagnosis and so on. It reduces that maximum out of pocket for the client to a very low, reasonable amount. The company I use for these plans, has an automatic 'replenishing' of the benefit for hospitalization to full benefit, after a 60 day time-lapse after a hospitalization.

Answered by Jake Dalton on December 1, 2025

Broker Licensed in NC, FL, GA, SC, TN & VA

Answered by Jake Dalton Medicare Insurance Agent

Angelique Solomon · Answer

Great question!

Do You Need a Hospital Indemnity Plan with Medicare Advantage?

Yes—it can be a smart add-on.
Medicare Advantage (MA) plans often have daily hospital copays, sometimes up to $300+ per day for the first few days of each stay. A hospital indemnity plan pays cash directly to you for each hospital day, helping cover:
   •   Copays
   •   Deductibles
   •   Lost income
   •   Travel or caregiver expenses

What If You’re Hospitalized Twice in One Year?

A good indemnity plan:
   •   Pays per hospital stay, not just once per year
   •   Resets after a 60-day no-hospital period (varies by plan)
   •   Can cover multiple admissions, even for the same condition

Bottom line: If your Medicare Advantage plan has high inpatient copays or if you’re concerned about unexpected hospital costs, a hospital indemnity plan adds a layer of financial protection.

Want me to review your current plan and show options?

Teresa Scott-Carano · Answer

Great Question. It is important to understand these are 2 very different plans. A Hospital Indemnity plan is not a replacement for your Advantage plan. Review your Medicare Advantage plan (call member services or your agent) so you understand coverage details and potential out of pocket costs for a single or multiple confinements. Then I recommend comparing different Hospital indemnity plans to learn the daily benefit amount, benefit period and cost to meet your needs and budget. Consult with a licensed insurance agent so you can make an informed decision. Thank you!

Answered by Teresa Scott-Carano on June 11, 2025

Agent Licensed in PA & OH

Answered by Teresa Scott-Carano Medicare Insurance Agent

Pamela Walton · Answer

Having a Hospital Indemnity plan in place is a great way to help pay for our pocket cost such as Hospital copays. Often times, the benefit can be used multiple times in the plan year. I recommend these plans to bridge the gap and save you hundreds of dollars in hospital out-of-pocket cost.

Answered by Pamela Walton on May 26, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX, AL, AR & 12 other states

Answered by Pamela Walton Medicare Insurance Agent

Sheila Trumble · Answer

You don’t absolutely need it if you have Medicare Advantage plan. However it helps pay for the copay of inpatient hospital per day you are responsible for during days 1-4 or 1-5, or days 1-6 depending on the benefits of your specific plan. That could be a real help. It’s a very personal decision.

Answered by Sheila Trumble on November 23, 2025

Agent Licensed in OH, NY & PA

Answered by Sheila Trumble Medicare Insurance Agent

Do I need a Hospital Indemnity Plan if I have Medicare Advantage? What if I am hospitalized twice in the same year?

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Do I need a Hospital Indemnity Plan if I have Medicare Advantage? What if I am hospitalized twice in the same year?

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