Disability (accident and health) policies that cover hospital expenses for adults MUST include coverage for

• A. Home health care
• B. Hospice care
• C. Skilled nursing care
• D. Outpatient services

Answer: (C)

Hospital expense coverage in disability policies must include skilled nursing care because after a hospital stay, many patients need medically supervised nursing services to recover. Skilled nursing care involves licensed nursing and other medical services provided to help with ongoing treatment and monitoring, and this level of care is a common extension of inpatient services. Including it protects the policyholder from substantial costs that can arise during recovery in a skilled nursing facility or similar setting, rather than just covering the hospital stay itself.

Home health care, hospice care, and outpatient services are important benefits in many plans, but they aren’t required as part of hospital expense coverage. Home health care and outpatient services occur outside the hospital, and hospice is for end-of-life care; they’re typically addressed separately within a policy.