Hospital Care

Darrell, 75, was hospitalized after a stroke. He recovered quickly and was sent home after a week. “My wife and I met with the hospital’s discharge planner. This helped me feel better prepared to go home.”

Read Darrell’s story.

Overnight care in a hospital is called inpatient care.

Topics on this page

• How to get hospital care
• Choose the best hospital
• Learn your plan’s costs and benefits for hospital care

How to get hospital care

• Your doctor refers you for hospital care (unless it’s an emergency).
• Use the worksheet to prepare for your hospital stay.
• If a hospital is sending you home before you think you are ready, tell your doctor. You, a family member, or your doctor can request a delay. If you have Medicare, call Lumetra   at 1-800-841-1602.

Choose the best hospital

If you can choose which hospital you go to, select the one that has the most experience treating medical problems similar to yours. If you and your doctor think you cannot get the care you need at a hospital in your plan’s network, ask your plan to approve care at another hospital.

You can compare hospitals near you at CalHospitalCompare  .

Learn your plan’s costs and benefits for hospital care

The co-pay or co-insurance for a hospital stay can be high. Ask your plan what is covered and what you will pay. Learn more about hospital costs.

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