A night in hospital costs you more than the treatment bill — there is also the income lost while you are away from work. The daily hospital cash benefit is the cover designed for that part. Here is how it works and how to claim it.

What a daily benefit is

It is a benefit paid as a cash amount per day for each day spent in hospital as an inpatient, at the daily rate stated in the contract — from a few hundred to a few thousand baht a day depending on the plan. The important point is that this money is paid to you, in addition to everything else, regardless of what the treatment actually cost or who has already paid it.

How it differs from treatment cover

Treatment cover pays the actual bill to the hospital. A daily benefit pays per day to you, to use as you choose. Many people use it to replace lost income, to cover a companion's travel, or to meet household expenses during the stay. For that reason, even if your treatment costs are fully covered by other benefits, you can still claim the daily benefit under your own contract.

Conditions to know before claiming

  • It counts only stays as a defined inpatient. Outpatient treatment, or a few hours under observation, generally does not qualify.
  • There is a maximum number of days per admission or per year as set by the contract.
  • Waiting periods and exclusions apply, as with any health rider.
  • Some plans pay an increased rate in particular cases, such as admission to an intensive care unit, subject to the stated conditions.

All the details are in the benefit table of each individual contract.

The claim process and documents

A daily benefit claim is usually submitted for reimbursement after discharge. The main documents generally required are the insurer's claim form, a doctor's certificate stating the diagnosis and the number of days of the stay, and a copy of your identification. In some cases the insurer may also ask for a summary of treatment costs or medical records. It is worth requesting the documents while you are still at the hospital, so you do not have to go back for them.

A small tip for a faster claim

Count up how many policies you hold with this cover from the outset, because a daily benefit can be claimed on every contract that provides it. Ask for as many copies of the doctor's certificate as there are insurers to submit to (or use certified copies, depending on each one's conditions), and submit within the time limit set by the policy.

In short

A daily benefit is tangible comfort on the days your body has to rest. Understand the definition of an inpatient, collect the doctor's certificates in full, and submit on time — and the claim goes through smoothly. If you are not sure whether your own contract includes this cover, open the benefit table or message us and ask.