For which of the following expenses does a Basic Hospital policy pay?

A Basic Hospital policy is designed primarily to cover essential hospital services and expenses incurred during a hospital stay. This type of policy typically pays for the costs associated with hospital room and board, which includes the fee for the room where the patient stays and the meals provided during the hospitalization period.

This coverage is vital since hospital stays can be financially burdensome, and Basic Hospital policies aim to alleviate some of those costs through direct payments for room and board. While emergency room services, outpatient procedures, and prescriptions are significant health-related expenses, they often fall under different types of health insurance coverage or more comprehensive plans rather than being specifically covered by a Basic Hospital policy.

In summary, the primary focus of a Basic Hospital policy is to support patients by covering the fundamental costs associated with their stay in the hospital, which makes hospital room and board the correct answer.