Hospital Daily Cash
What is Hospital Daily Cash?
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Updated on Jun 30, 2025 6 min read
What is Hospital Daily Cash in Health Insurance?
Daily hospital cash provides a certain amount of money for each day during the hospitalization. The amount paid is fixed at the moment of purchase and does not change. Hospital daily cash is another name for hospital cash benefit or hospital allowance in health insurance. It is a supplement benefit that is offered within or alongside your health insurance policy. It is designed to cover non-medical expenses that may arise during hospitalisation.
These expenses can include:
- Lost income due to time off work
- Transportation costs for family members
- Childcare or eldercare expenses
- Food and other incidental cost
- Any other out-of-pocket expenses that might occur during the hospitalisation
Understanding Daily Hospital Cash in Health Insurance
Unexpected hospitalizations can disrupt more than just your health; they can significantly impact your finances. While health insurance covers medical expenses, it often overlooks the daily costs that accumulate during a hospital stay. From lost wages and transportation to childcare and incidental expenses, these out-of-pocket burdens can quickly mount. That’s where hospital daily cash insurance steps in, providing a fixed daily allowance to help offset these non-medical costs. This supplemental policy acts as a financial safety net, allowing you to focus on recovery rather than worrying about the accumulating expenses that accompany a hospital stay. In this article, we’ll delve into the specifics of hospital daily cash insurance, exploring its benefits, coverage, and how it can offer crucial financial support during challenging times.
Let us understand with an example,
If you are hospitalized and your health plan pays the hospital daily cash of 1,000 INR each day of hospitalization, it makes no difference whether you spend INR 1200 or INR 800 on other medical expenditures. The insurer will pay a fixed benefit amount of INR 1000 for each day of your admission to the hospital.
Even if per day hospitalization expenses are less than hospital cash, the Insurer would still pay the fixed amount of money, without any kind of questions or restrictions.
Availability of Hospital Daily Cash Under Health Plan
Daily cash benefits can:
- Be included in your standard health insurance plan with no additional charges.
- Come as a separate health insurance plan.
- Available as an add-on cover with additional charges.
What are the Benefits of the Daily Hospital Cash?
The benefits of daily hospital cash in health insurance are designed to alleviate the financial burden of non-medical expenses during a hospital stay. Here’s a breakdown of the key advantages:
Covers Non-medical Expenses:
It helps pay for expenses not covered by your primary health insurance, such as transportation, food, childcare, and lost wages.
This provides a financial cushion to manage these out-of-pocket costs.Provides Financial Flexibility:
The fixed daily allowance gives you the freedom to use the money as you see fit, without needing to submit detailed expense reports.
This flexibility can be particularly helpful for those with varying or unpredictable daily expenses.Supplements Primary Health Insurance:
It acts as a valuable supplement to your main health insurance policy, enhancing your overall financial protection.
It fills the gaps that standard health insurance may leave.Reduces Financial Stress:
By providing a steady stream of cash, it helps reduce the financial stress associated with hospital stays, allowing you to focus on recovery.
This is especially helpful for people that are self-employed, or that do not have paid sick leave.Simple and Straightforward:
The benefit is easy to understand and claim, with a fixed daily amount paid for each day of hospitalization.
The claims process is usually very simple.Affordable:
Daily hospital cash riders, or stand-alone policies, are usually very affordable.Income Replacement:
For people who are self-employed, or who do not have paid sick leave, this can be used to replace lost income.
Health Insurance Plans Offering Hospital Daily Cash
| Daily Hospital Cash Insurance | Covered Amount | Days Covered |
| Star Mediclassic Individual | Rs 1000 per day | 7 days to 14 days |
| Star Comprehensive Individual | Rs 750 per day | 7 days to 120 days |
| NivaBupa ReAssure | Rs 1000 to Rs 4000 per day | Upto sum insured |
| NivaBupa Aspire | Rs 2000 per day | Upto sum insured |
| ManipalCigna Prime Active` | Rs 800 to Rs 7000 | From 5 Lakh to 10 Lakh |
| Bajaj Allianz Hospital Daily Cash | Rs 500 to Rs 2500 | 30 days to 60 days |
| Care Health Insurance Add-on Coverage | As per the sum insured | 30 to 60 days |
To know more about other health insurance plans, that give comprehensive coverage, you can click here.
General Conditions in the Hospital Cash Benefit
- Waiting period clause for a shorter period of time than usual
- Hospitalization must last at least 24 hours
- Daycare treatment is not covered
- The maximum limit on the number of hospitalization days for which the allowance is payable in a year is 30, 60, or 90 days
General Features of Hospital Daily Cash Policy
- Daily cash options: from INR 250 to INR 8,000.
- Policy tenure: 1 to 3 years
- Benefit period: From 15 to 180 days per year
- Waiting period: 24 months to 48 months
What are the General Exclusions of Daily Hospital Cash?
While hospital daily cash benefits are designed to provide financial support during hospitalization, they typically come with certain exclusions. Here are some of the major exclusions you might encounter:
Pre-existing Conditions:
Hospitalizations related to pre-existing conditions are often excluded during the initial waiting period. This period can vary, sometimes lasting several years.Specific Illnesses/Procedures:
Certain illnesses or procedures, such as cataracts, hernias, or joint replacements, may have specific waiting periods. Hospitalizations related to these conditions within that period will likely be excluded.First 24 Hours:
Some policies might exclude the first 24 hours of hospitalization. This means you won’t receive the daily cash benefit for the first day of your hospital stay.Outpatient Treatment:
Hospital daily cash benefits typically apply only to in-patient hospitalizations. Out-patient treatments (OPD) or procedures are generally excluded.Cosmetic Surgery:
Hospitalizations for cosmetic surgeries or treatments are usually excluded.Pregnancy and Maternity:
While some policies may cover maternity-related hospitalizations, others might exclude them or have a special waiting period for them.Mental Health Conditions:
Hospitalizations for mental health conditions may be excluded from some policies.Substance Abuse:
Hospitalizations resulting from substance abuse, such as alcohol or drug abuse, are typically excluded.Self-Inflicted Injuries:
Hospitalizations resulting from self-inflicted injuries or suicide attempts are excluded.War or Nuclear Perils:
Hospitalizations resulting from war, nuclear perils, or acts of terrorism are generally excluded.Alternative Treatments/ AYUSH:
Hospitalization due to alternative treatments like Ayurveda, or homoeopathy, may be excluded unless specifically stated in the policy.International Hospitalization:
Most policies only cover hospitalization within India.
Understanding these exclusions is crucial to ensure you are aware of the limitations of your hospital’s daily cash policy and can take full advantage of the offerings when the need arises.
How Do You Claim Hospital Daily Cash?
Claiming hospital daily cash typically involves a straightforward process, but it’s essential to follow the specific instructions provided by your insurance company. Here’s a general overview of the steps involved:
Inform the Insurance Company:
- As soon as possible after hospitalization, inform your insurance company or Third Party Administrator (TPA) about your admission. This can often be done through a phone call, online portal, or mobile app.
Gather Required Documents:
You’ll need to collect the necessary documentation to support your claim. This usually includes:
- Your health insurance policy documents.
- Your health insurance ID card.
- Hospital discharge summary.
- Hospital bills (even though the benefit is a fixed amount, it is still required as proof of hospitalization).
- Doctor’s certificate or medical report.
- Claim form (provided by the insurance company).
- ID proof (Aadhaar card, PAN card, etc.).
Fill Out the Claim Form:
- Obtain the claim form from your insurance company’s website, mobile app, or by contacting their customer service.
- Fill out the form accurately and completely, providing all the required information.
Submit the Claim:
Submit the completed claim form along with all the required documents to your insurance company or TPA.
You can usually submit the documents through:
- Online portal or mobile app.
- Email.
- Postal mail.
- Visiting a branch office.
Claim Verification:
- The insurance company will verify the submitted documents and assess your claim.
- They may contact the hospital or your doctor for further verification if needed.
Claim Settlement:
- If your claim is approved, the daily cash benefit will be paid to you as per the policy terms.
- The payment is typically made through a direct bank transfer to your registered bank account.
Conclusion
Hospital daily cash insurance provides a valuable financial safety net during hospital stays, addressing the often-overlooked non-medical expenses that can accumulate. By offering a fixed daily allowance, it empowers policyholders to focus on recovery rather than financial stress. Understanding the benefits, exclusions, and claim process of hospital daily cash is essential for maximizing its advantages. Whether as a standalone policy or an add-on, this supplemental coverage can significantly enhance your overall health insurance protection.
Ready to safeguard your finances during hospitalization? Explore hospital daily cash insurance options today at PolicyX.com and secure your peace of mind. Take the first step towards a worry-free recovery! Ask your queries, we will answer all your questions without any gimmicks.
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Hospital Daily Cash: FAQs
1. How does hospital daily cash differ from regular health insurance?
Regular health insurance covers medical expenses, while hospital daily cash provides a fixed amount to cover non-medical costs, regardless of the actual medical bills.
2. Can I use the hospital daily cash benefit for anything I want?
Yes, the fixed daily allowance provides financial flexibility, allowing you to use the funds as needed during the hospitalisation.
3. Is hospital daily cash available as a standalone policy?
Yes, it can be available as a standalone policy, an add-on to existing health insurance, or pre-included in some standard health plans.
4. How long does it take to receive hospital daily cash benefit after submitting a claim?
The processing time varies, but upon approval, the benefit is usually paid through direct bank transfer.
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Written By: Simran Saxena
Simran has over 4 years of experience in content marketing, insurance, and healthcare sectors. Her motto is to make health and term insurance simple for our readers has proven to make insurance lingos simple and easy to understand by our readers.
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