Hospital Benefits

Hospital stays can be unexpected and costly, but it doesn't have to hurt your budget. Nextep's hospital plan can help protect your finances for an unexpected hospitalization. You can get coverage for yourself or the whole family.

When you or a dependent are admitted to the hospital you'll receive a payout for every day you or your dependent are hospitalized, up to the plan's limit. You have a choice of two plans: low-deductible or high-deductible.

Why It's Important

Plan Features

The plan pays you a lump sum when you or a covered family member has a hospital stay due to accident or sickness in these circumstances, regardless of the plan selected:

Sickness & accident hospital stays
Admission
Extended hospitalization
Coverage for up to four separate hospital admissions each calendar year

ICU stays
Lodging for travel
Newborn confinement
Inpatient rehab

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Here's a quick overview:

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Coverage Tiers

You have the option to enroll in the high or low hospital plan. Here are some examples of the differences:

High Plan

If your medical insurance has a higher deductible or out-of-pocket max, you may consider this tier. It provides a larger cash payout to help bridge that gap.

Higher cash payout for standard or intensive care admissions
Higher daily benefit for stays up to 31 days
Higher nightly benefit to help cover family travel costs
Higher payout per day for up to two days after childbirth

Low Plan

If your medical insurance features a lower out-of-pocket limit, you may want to select this tier. It gives you reliable, baseline protection.

Cash payout for standard or intensive care admissions
Daily benefit for stays up to 31 days
Nightly benefit to help cover family travel costs
Payout per day for up to two days after childbirth

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Answers to Your Questions

Hospital stays get expensive quickly, and deductibles, copays, and out-of-network costs add up fast. Extra financial support means less worry for your family. You may consider the plan for some common hospital stays due to accident or illness, such as these:

Chronic health conditions
Family history of serious illnesses
Planned procedures or surgeries

This benefit pays you directly when you or a covered family member experiences a hospital stay due to a covered accident or illness.

A lump-sum payment is made directly to you, not your doctor. Spend the money how you choose.

As long as you are actively employed, you, your spouse, and eligible dependents up to age 26 are guaranteed coverage when enrolling. No medical exam is necessary.

Receipt of this info does not guarantee benefit eligibility. Plans may vary based on your goegraphical area, company's benefit portfolio, and eligibility criteria. Log in to your enrollment portal in your Elevate by Nextep™ account or mobile app to see the specific plans available to you.

When it's time to enroll, you can view pricing for all plan options right in your Elevate by Nextep™ account or mobile app. As you click through the enrollment screens, a running tally will track and display your monthly costs in real time.

Need help choosing? Use the built-in Decision Support tool to get tailored benefit recommendations based on your unique lifestyle and budget.

When you experience a covered hospital stay due to illness or accident, simply complete and submit a claim form (see plan documents). You can also call 1-800-GET-MET8 (800-438-6388) for assistance. You can also log in to your MetLife account with single sign-in using your Elevate by Nextep™ account or mobile app and begin your claims process online.

Within 3 days of submitting your claim info, you'll receive a letter of acknowledgment. After you claim has been processed, you'll receive your payment within 10 business days.

You can take this benefit with you if your employment ends.

The contracted cost through your company may differ from your individual cost, and deductions will no longer be taken via payroll. Payment and continuation of benefits are your responsibility after employment ends, arranged directly with the benefit provider.

No. This supplemental insurance will be effective on the date of your coverage as long as you are actively at work. There are no waiting periods to satisfy.

Yes. If your employer offers hospital insurance, your acceptance is guaranteed, regardless of your health. You need to be actively at work for your coverage to be effective. There are no medical exams and no health questions to answer.

No. Hospital insurance does not replace comprehensive medical insurance. It is designed to supplement your primary coverage as an additional layer of financial protection.

Since you won't need to present your Hospital coverage to any medical providers, you do not need an ID card for this benefit.

The hospital plan is meant to cover limited hospital stays for illnesses and accidents. It does not cover certain events, such as: