Skip to main content
  • Find a dentist
  • Find a vision provider
  • Find a financial professional
  • Forms and claims
  • Contact us
Guardian Life Logo
login
Guardian Life Logo
      • Life insurance
      • Disability insurance
      • Dental insurance
      • Vision insurance
      • Accident insurance
      • Critical illness insurance
      • Hospital indemnity insurance
      • Group benefits
      • Absence management
      • Paid family & medical leave
      • Benefits technology
      • Enrollment
      • Mental wellness
    • Retirement
    • Investment accounts
    • Find a financial professional
      • Learning Center
      • Forms and claims
      • Find a dentist
      • Find a vision provider
      • Find a financial professional
      • Retirement calculator
      • Life insurance quote
      • Disability insurance quote
      • Dental insurance quote
      • Vision insurance quote
      • Accident insurance quote
      • Research and insights
      • Reports
      • Webinars
      • Join as a broker
      • Find a sales office
    • About Guardian
    • Careers
    • Newsroom
    • Contact us
    • Social responsibility
    • Our diverse and inclusive culture
    • an individual or family
    • an employer
    • a broker
    • a dental provider
    • a financial professional
userLog in

Need help? Call us:

(888) 482-7342

Hospital indemnity insurance

Hospitalization can happen to anyone. And while medical insurance covers those expenses, other costs can add up like extra childcare, transportation, help around the house, even pet care. There may also be deductibles and co-pays. That's where hospital indemnity coverage can help.

Man in a hospital bed

Get financial help when you’re hospitalized

  • For employees - Icon - Employee badge

    For employees

    Learn how hospital indemnity insurance can complement your medical insurance to help cover costs associated with a hospital stay.

    Read on.

  • For employers - Icon - Business building

    For employers

    Give employees access to hospital indemnity insurance and help support their financial wellness.

    Learn more

Hospital indemnity basics

  • Who is hospital indemnity insurance for?

    It’s for people who want extra financial support if they’re hospitalized due to sickness or injury. It can help you focus on recovery, instead of worrying about bills.

  • What does hospital indemnity insurance cover?

    Benefits are paid directly to you based on admission and days hospitalized. You can use the money you get to help cover any costs, from out-of-pocket medical expenses to added household costs, like child care.

  • Why should I consider hospital indemnity Insurance?

    Hospital indemnity insurance can help pay for out-of-pocket costs you incur as a result of a hospital stay. It's a great complement to your medical insurance because it serves as financial protection for unplanned expenses.

Enhancing coverage

  • What about other supplemental insurance plans?

    A hospital indemnity insurance plan pays benefits if you’re hospitalized, but other health and medical issues can also impact your finances. That’s why Guardian also offers other types of supplemental health insurance — including accident insurance, cancer insurance, and critical illness insurance —  to strengthen your finances and help with costs you might not have been expecting.

  • Coverage is guaranteed, no medical questions asked

    Guardian's hospital indemnity insurance is always guaranteed — making it easy and hassle free for you to sign up for coverage. You can also take the coverage with you if you leave your employer.

FAQ

Top questions about hospital indemnity plans

Already have Guardian hospital indemnity insurance?

Let’s help you find what you need.

  • Log in to your account
  • Forms

This information is not intended for residents of New Mexico and Washington.

Guardian’s Hospital Indemnity Insurance is underwritten and issued by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY. Products are not available in all states. Policy limitations and exclusions apply. Optional riders and/or features may incur additional costs. This is a limited plan of supplemental health insurance that provides the specified financial support, as a lump sum or indemnity payment, following a covered hospitalization. This is not minimum essential coverage as defined by federal law. This coverage will not reimburse for hospital or medical expenses. Generic Policy Form# GP-1-HI-15. The state approved form is the governing document.

Guardian Life Logo

Customer service

  • Contact Us
  • 1-888-Guardian (1-888-482-7342)
  • Submit a Claim

Resources

  • Forms & Claims
  • Find a dental or vision provider
  • Find a financial professional
  • Careers

Industry Professionals

  • Find a Guardian benefits sales office
  • New case implementation tracker
  • Living Balance Sheet
  • instagram squareopens in a new window
  • twitter squareopens in a new window
  • facebook squareopens in a new window
  • linkedinopens in a new window
  • youtube squareopens in a new window

Legal Information

  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Disclosures
  • Individual products benefit disclosures
  • Cybersecurity
  • Accessibility
  • Language assistance
  • Telehealth
  • NY Reg. 200
  • Confidentiality for domestic violence victims
  • SEC Rule 606
  • Amendments to broker agreement
  • State disaster updates
  • MDG TX notice to providers
  • TX consumer information
  • Artificial intelligence statement
  • Agreement to conduct business electronically
  • Report suspected fraud
  • Do not sell or share my personal information

Guardian® is a registered trademark of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY.

Copyright© 2025 The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. All rights reserved.

Like many insurance coverage choices, the decision to get a hospital indemnity plan — or not — depends on how concerned you are about protecting your finances if something unforeseen happens. A hospitalization can place a lot of stress on your family, and the direct payments from hospital indemnity coverage may help lessen any financial pressures. It’s also important to note that some hospital stays aren’t entirely unpredictable. For example, if you're planning on starting a family, the benefits could be a way to help pay for expenses while hospitalized for the birth of a child.

Hospital indemnity plans pay benefits based on admission and days hospitalized. The claims process is typically straightforward: you just need to provide evidence of hospitalization. The benefit is paid directly to you — not the medical provider or hospital.

Supplemental insurance plans complement each other. For example, benefits from an accident insurance plan can be used to help pay for out-of-pocket costs that come from an emergency room visit. Cancer insurance and critical illness insurance can provide valuable financial assistance for people undergoing outpatient treatment for a serious condition. Supplemental health plans have relatively low monthly premiums that can be automatically deducted from your paycheck when purchased through an employer. Best of all, they can help keep you from dipping into emergency funds when there’s a medical problem.