
Critical illness insurance and hospital indemnity insurance are two types of supplemental insurance that can help protect you and your loved ones from unexpected medical expenses. Critical illness insurance pays out a lump sum if you're diagnosed with a serious illness like cancer, heart attack, or stroke, and can be used to cover non-medical expenses like mortgage payments or lost income.
While both types of insurance can provide financial relief, they work in different ways. Critical illness insurance typically covers a list of specific illnesses, and the payout amount is usually tax-free. Hospital indemnity insurance, on the other hand, pays out a fixed amount for each day you spend in the hospital, up to a certain number of days.
The cost of critical illness insurance varies depending on factors like your age, health, and the amount of coverage you choose. For example, a 35-year-old non-smoker might pay around $50 per month for a $50,000 coverage policy.
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What is Critical Illness Insurance?
Critical illness insurance is a supplemental health insurance policy that provides a payout if the policyholder is diagnosed with a qualifying illness or medical condition. Policies typically pay out either as a lump sum or in monthly payments.
The funds can be used for any purpose, such as helping cover medical expenses not included in the health insurance policy, hospital stays, or even helping with loss income.
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Benefits and Features
Critical illness insurance and hospital indemnity insurance may seem similar, but they have distinct benefits and features. Critical illness insurance can be a valuable investment for those with a history of certain diseases or a family history of serious illness.
You can use the money from a critical illness insurance policy for a variety of needs, such as paying for medical expenses, replacing lost income, or paying off debt.
Here are some key benefits of critical illness insurance:
- Critical illness insurance covers many serious illnesses, including cancer, heart attack, kidney failure, multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and major organ transplants.
- Critical illness insurance premiums are relatively affordable, with some employer-sponsored premiums offering a pre-tax benefit that reduces your overall taxable income.
- You can get a lump-sum payment from a critical illness insurance policy that you can use for however you see fit.
Hospital indemnity insurance, on the other hand, can help offset out-of-pocket costs associated with hospitalization. You can use the benefits of hospital indemnity insurance for a wide variety of needs, including deductibles, coinsurance, medications, and more.
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Hospital indemnity insurance can be valuable for people with chronic health conditions or a family history of serious illness. It can also be an added help to offset out-of-pocket costs if you're pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or if you have an upcoming procedure that will require hospitalization.
Some key benefits of hospital indemnity insurance include:
- You can take the benefits of hospital indemnity insurance with you, even if you move or leave your current employer.
- You can use the benefits of hospital indemnity insurance for a wide variety of needs.
- Many policies allow you to add family members to your plan.
How It Works and Coverage
Hospital indemnity insurance sends you the benefit directly, so you have complete freedom of how you use it. This flexibility is part of what makes hospital indemnity insurance so appealing.
You can use hospital indemnity insurance to help pay for a variety of expenses. This can be a big help when you're facing unexpected medical bills.
MedMutual Extend offers an affordable option for accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity coverage that can complement a health insurance plan.
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How It Works
You can purchase hospital indemnity insurance in addition to your standard health insurance plan. This allows you to receive a benefit to help cover expenses you might face as a result of a covered hospital stay.
The benefit is sent directly to you, unless you choose to assign it otherwise. This gives you complete freedom in how you use it.
As long as you continue to pay your premiums, you'll be eligible for the benefit.
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Coverage
Hospital indemnity insurance coverage is flexible, allowing you to use the benefit to help pay for a variety of expenses.
You can use the benefit to cover expenses you might face as a result of a covered hospital stay, such as medical bills or lost income.
There are six plan options to choose from, so you can select the one that best fits your needs.
These products provide limited benefits, so it's essential to review the plan details carefully.
You can use the benefit directly, without needing to assign it to a specific medical provider, giving you complete freedom in how you use it.
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Cost and Comparison
Critical illness insurance and hospital indemnity policies have different price tags. The average monthly premium for critical illness insurance is around $50-$100, depending on the policy and provider.
For hospital indemnity insurance, you can expect to pay between $20-$50 per month, depending on the level of coverage and the provider.
In general, critical illness insurance tends to be more expensive than hospital indemnity insurance.
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Cost

The cost of hospital indemnity insurance is a significant consideration for many people. It's reassuring to know that many policies start at around $10 per month.
Your age, location, coverage amount, and the insurance company you choose will all impact the price of your policy. This means that the cost can vary significantly from person to person.
Fortunately, hospital indemnity insurance can be a very affordable option, with many policies priced to fit a wide range of budgets.
How Compares
Hospital indemnity insurance is a type of supplemental policy that pays a fixed amount for each day of hospitalization.
Aflac offers hospital indemnity insurance, which can be compared to other types of supplemental policies they offer.
Hospital indemnity insurance pays a fixed amount per day, whereas other policies may offer varying levels of coverage or reimbursement.
This type of insurance can be a good option for those who want a predictable and stable financial safety net during hospital stays.
It's worth noting that hospital indemnity insurance is not a replacement for major medical insurance, but rather a supplement to it.
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When to Consider
If you're planning to have a baby, hospital indemnity insurance might be worth considering.
If you want coverage in case of accidents, this type of policy can provide financial help for accident-related hospital stays.
Hospital indemnity insurance can help you avoid the costs of accident-related hospital stays, which can be significant.
Here are some specific situations where hospital indemnity insurance might be a good idea:
- Planning to have a baby
- Wanting coverage in case of accidents
Protection and Types
Hospital indemnity insurance provides financial protection with lump-sum cash benefits for inpatient and outpatient services resulting from a covered accident or illness.
This type of insurance can help alleviate the burden of costly hospital expenses that remain after health insurance deductibles or copays.
MedMutual Extend offers an affordable option for accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity coverage that can complement a health insurance plan.
There are six plan options to choose from, and no underwriting is required to enroll in MedMutual Extend.
These products provide limited benefits, and product limitations, exclusions, waiting, and elimination periods may apply.
Limited benefits mean that the coverage is not comprehensive, but it can still provide some financial support during a difficult time.
Hospital indemnity insurance is often used to supplement health insurance, not replace it, as it does not qualify as Minimum Essential Coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the disadvantages of critical illness insurance?
Critical illness insurance has several disadvantages, including low coverage limits and increased premium costs with age. Additionally, most plans exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Sources
- https://dps.georgia.gov/critical-illness-accident-hospital-indemnity-and-cancer-insurance
- https://pr.stylemg.com/article/Aflac-Critical-Illness-Insurance-vs-Hospital-Indemnity-Insurance
- https://www.metlife.com/stories/accident-health/critical-illness-insurance-vs-hospital-indemnity/
- https://www.aflac.com/resources/hospital-insurance/is-hospital-indemnity-insurance-worth-it.aspx
- https://www.medmutual.com/Employers/Accident-Critical-Illness-and-Hospital-Indemnity-Plans.aspx
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