A few policies start paying on the 101st day. The earlier benefits begin, the more expensive the policy is. Consumers should weigh the price of the first day protection against the savings in premiums paid for a policy starting on the 21st day. Starting on the 101st day is too late. Patients often are discharged from skilled or intermediate care by the 101st day and never would receive any benefit from the policy.
Most policies require a three-day stay, but a few have no requirement.
With the new limits on what Medicare will pay hospitals for inpatient care, normal time in the hospital has been cut drastically. Patients might not be in the hospital for three full days and would, therefore, not qualify for Medicare or private nursing home insurance coverage. Policies requiring more than a three-day hospital stay should be avoided. Age, health and policy benefits determine the price. In general, the younger you are when you buy a policy, the lower your premium will be.