Domiciliary hospitalization refers to medical treatment taken at home instead of a hospital, but still considered as hospitalization under a health insurance policy.
Health insurance has evolved over the years to meet the changing needs of patients. One such important feature in many policies today is domiciliary hospitalization, a benefit that allows patients to receive medical treatment at home.
Domiciliary hospitalization meaning: It refers to medical treatment provided at home under medical supervision when the patient cannot be moved to a hospital or when hospital beds are unavailable. This feature helps patients continue receiving necessary care without the stress of hospitalization, especially in chronic or emergency situations.
Not everyone qualifies for domiciliary care, so eligibility depends on medical and practical circumstances. A patient can opt for domiciliary hospitalization in the following cases:
Examples: Advanced stages of cancer, paralysis, severe respiratory issues, or other conditions requiring active treatment.
The domiciliary limit is the maximum amount your insurer will pay for home-based hospitalization expenses. It is usually a percentage of the total sum insured (for example, 10% or 20%). Always check your policy documents for the specific limit.
Not all treatments qualify for domiciliary hospitalization. To claim the benefit, the following conditions usually apply:
Many companies now include domiciliary hospitalization coverage in their group health insurance plans. This helps employees access quality healthcare from the comfort of their homes.
Coverage may include:
However, coverage limits and conditions can vary depending on the health insurance provider. HRs and employers should ensure that their group health policy clearly mentions this benefit for employee well-being.
To understand more group health insurance terms, check out our Insurance Glossary.
Here’s the step-by-step process to make a claim for domiciliary hospitalization:
Example Scenarios
To understand how domiciliary care works, here are two real-life situations:
Such cases show how domiciliary hospitalization can be a practical and compassionate solution for patients and families.
Domiciliary care is not just a convenience, it’s a crucial healthcare feature that:
Domiciliary hospitalization benefit implies that an insured person is getting medical treatment at their home because they are not able to go for hospitalization or the hospital room is unavailable.
Domicile treatment, also known as domiciliary hospitalization, refers to medical care provided at home for illnesses or conditions that typically require hospitalization. It is covered by health insurance only when the treatment is prescribed by a certified doctor and hospital admission is not possible due to the severity of illness or lack of hospital infrastructure.
A domicile claim refers to the health insurance claim submitted when a patient receives domiciliary (home-based) hospitalization. To claim, the insured must provide a doctor’s prescription, treatment records, bills, and sometimes a certificate of hospital bed unavailability.
Domiciliary benefit is an insurance feature that allows policyholders to receive coverage for medical treatment taken at home when hospitalization is not possible. It typically covers treatment by a registered medical practitioner, nursing services, prescribed drugs, and injections, provided the condition meets the eligibility criteria set by the insurer.
While both involve treatment at home, home care includes general assistance like help with daily activities or physiotherapy and is not always medically intensive. Domiciliary treatment, on the other hand, is equivalent to hospitalization involving active treatment by doctors and nurses, usually for critical conditions under medical supervision.
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