Supporting clients through unexpected hospital expenses
ArticleApril 21, 2026
Your clients rely on health insurance. They choose in-network hospitals and follow plan guidelines. However, even with solid insurance coverage, a hospital stay can lead to unexpected financial challenges beyond just medical treatment.
What health insurance covers and where gaps remain
Health insurance helps pay for hospital stays, procedures, and physician services. Clients are usually responsible for deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. On average, insured Americans still pay nearly $2,000 out of pocket for a three-day hospital stay, after factoring in cost sharing.¹
A hospital stay can also create costs that are not medical at all:
- Transportation and parking
- Meals for visiting family members
- Childcare or elder care arrangements
- Ongoing bills such as rent and utilities
These expenses continue, even while your clients are recovering.
Why this matters for your clients
Hospital expenses remain the leading cause of medical debt in the United States. Nearly three-quarters of adults with past-due medical bills owe at least part of that debt to hospitals. Many of them had insurance at the time of care.² In fact, 1 in 7 Americans have borrowed money to cover healthcare costs, and 11% have even skipped meals to pay medical bills.³ Uncertainty about how to manage all these expenses can create added stress at a time when clients should be focused on healing.
How Hospital Indemnity coverage can help
Hospital indemnity insurance delivers benefits directly to clients when they are hospitalized for a covered reason. Clients have the freedom to use this benefit as it suits their needs, for medical bills, everyday living expenses, or to help offset transportation costs.
Take Sarah, a busy mom and project manager. After an unexpected fall while walking her dog, Sarah found herself in the hospital with a torn ACL. Despite having health insurance, her out-of-pocket medical expenses quickly added up:
- 1-day hospital stay: $3,025*
- MRI: $500*
- X-ray: $450*
- Surgery: $3,000*
- Physical therapy: $1,750*
Thanks to Zurich's Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Sarah received a fixed benefit payment, which she could use toward her hospital bills, deductibles, copays, and ongoing therapy. The payment went directly to Sarah, allowing her to focus on recovery instead of worrying about finances. Sarah’s experience shows how hospital indemnity coverage can provide valuable financial backup when the unexpected happens. It helps you concentrate on getting well, not on the bills.
*Estimates based on projected 2025 national averages; actual costs may vary.
Zurich’s approach to Hospital Indemnity coverage
Zurich's Hospital Indemnity coverage is designed to help clients regain control over the financial impact of a hospital stay. By providing a set benefit, Zurich offers clients flexibility to manage the expenses that matter most to them, bringing greater confidence and stability during challenging times.
Brokers can play a key role by helping clients recognize where additional support can make a real difference in their lives. The right solution not only helps to protect finances, but also allows clients to turn their focus to healing.
No one plans to be hospitalized. When brokers help clients understand what health insurance covers and where extra support can make a difference, they prepare clients to face life’s surprises. Providing information about Zurich Hospital Indemnity coverage helps clients stay one step ahead and helps protect both their health and their financial well-being.
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