Definition
Pre-Hospitalisation
Pre-hospitalisation cover reimburses medical expenses incurred for a defined number of days before admission that are related to the treatment.
Costs such as diagnostic tests, doctor consultations and medicines in the run-up to a planned hospitalisation are covered for a fixed window before admission, commonly 30 to 60 days, provided they relate to the same ailment for which the patient is hospitalised.
Claiming pre-hospitalisation usually requires preserving bills and prescriptions and is settled on a reimbursement basis even if the hospitalisation itself was cashless. It pairs with post-hospitalisation cover to capture the full episode of care rather than just the in-hospital portion.
Related terms
- Daycare ProceduresDaycare procedures are medical treatments that, thanks to technology, are completed in under 24 hours and are covered by health policies despite not meeting the standard hospitalisation requirement.
- Post-HospitalisationPost-hospitalisation cover reimburses follow-up medical expenses for a defined number of days after discharge that relate to the treated illness.
- Reimbursement ClaimA reimbursement claim is when the policyholder pays the hospital first and later submits documents to the insurer to recover eligible expenses.
Plain-English explainer from The Dispatch Investors Encyclopedia. General information, not financial advice.