In-patient

What Does In-patient Mean?

An in-patient or inpatient is a person who has been admitted to a hospital overnight for treatment of a serious injury or illness. In-patients can stay for one night, a few days, a week, or even longer. The length of the stay depends on the severity of the illness and the difficulty of treating it.

Insuranceopedia Explains In-patient

A doctor or clinic visit is sufficient to diagnose and treat many illnesses. However, conditions that are more serious, such as a broken leg, a life-threatening infection, or organ failure can all require overnight hospitalization. Most health insurance policies have coverage for in-patient hospital stays as they can be extremely expensive.