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.
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.
Share this Term
Stay informed with Insuranceopedia!
The world of insurance can be complicated. Subscribe to the Insuranceopedia newsletter and stay in the know! Access expert content, industry term definitions and answers to your questions from knowledgeable insurance insiders. Arm yourself with what you need to know to keep your assets and your family safe.
Latest Articles
