Disclaimer arrow_icon

By shopping with third-party insurance agencies, you may be contacted by a licensed insurance agent from an independent agency that is not connected with or endorsed by the federal Medicare program.

These agents/agencies may not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-Medicare to get information on all options available.

Learn about Medicare plans.^*

Explore plans from a licensed agency!

These agents/agencies may not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-Medicare to get information on all options available.

Home > Glossary > outpatient hospital care

outpatient hospital care

What is outpatient hospital care?

When you have been admitted into a hospital as an inpatient, but the hospital registers you as an outpatient, your medical or surgical care is considered as outpatient hospital care – even if you stay overnight in the hospital for observation purposes.

Tags: inpatient care

What questions should Medicare patients ask before they’re discharged from the hospital?

Learn why patients are often readmitted after a hospital stay, what qualifies as a readmission and what questions Medicare enrollees should ask before being discharged from a hospital.

Why you can’t afford to get Medicare Part B wrong

People who delay enrollment in Medicare Part B when they're first eligible may face a late-enrollment penalty for each year they delay signing up.

What questions should Medicare patients ask before they’re discharged from the hospital?

Learn why patients are often readmitted after a hospital stay, what qualifies as a readmission and what questions Medicare enrollees should ask before being discharged from a hospital.

Why you can’t afford to get Medicare Part B wrong

People who delay enrollment in Medicare Part B when they're first eligible may face a late-enrollment penalty for each year they delay signing up.

See more articles

outpatient hospital care

What is outpatient hospital care?

What is outpatient hospital care?

Related Articles

What questions should Medicare patients ask before they’re discharged from the hospital?

Why you can’t afford to get Medicare Part B wrong

What questions should Medicare patients ask before they’re discharged from the hospital?

Why you can’t afford to get Medicare Part B wrong