Inpatient

If you are receiving inpatient care, it generally means that you have been admitted to a hospital or other healthcare facility for at least an overnight stay. For example, if you have your appendix removed and you are in the hospital for two days, you are an inpatient, and any insurance benefits you’re eligible for fall under the inpatient classification. On the other hand, if you go to the hospital or another facility to have your tonsils removed, you probably go home the same day, so you would be an outpatient and your insurance benefits would fall under the outpatient classification.