You have a total of 60 days in reserve that you can use throughout your life. For each day of a lifetime reserve, Medicare pays all but one day of covered costs. So how long does Medicare pay for rehabilitation after a hospital stay? The summary answer is 20 days, during which Medicare covers 100% of the costs for eligible patients to receive rehabilitation in a skilled nursing facility. Between 21 and 100 days, patients are responsible for paying for coinsurance, and after 100 days, patients are responsible for paying the full cost.
You may not need a minimum 3-day hospital stay if your doctor is involved in a responsible care organization or other type of Medicare initiative approved for an exemption from the 3-day rule in a “skilled nursing facility.” Always ask your doctor or hospital staff if Medicare will cover your stay in the SNF. Medicare Advantage plans can also waive the 3-day minimum payment. Contact your plan for more information. For each benefit period, Medicare Part A covers up to 90 days of hospital care.
This can include time spent in a hospital, as well as time in an inpatient rehabilitation center. The previous benefit period ends if the patient goes home and stays out of any hospital or SNF for 60 days. After the surgery and three days in the hospital, she is transferred to a specialized nursing facility for rehabilitation, where she stays for 40 days before returning home. You don't have to pay a deductible for inpatient rehabilitation care if Medicare already charged you a deductible for care you received in a previous hospitalization within the same benefit period.
To be eligible for SNF coverage, the patient must first have been hospitalized for at least three consecutive calendar days, not including the day they were discharged. For those who qualify, Medicare Part A covers up to 100 days of SNF rehabilitation per benefit period. You may be eligible for an institutional plan for special needs (I-SNP) if you need to stay in a skilled nursing facility for 90 days or more. You don't have to pay a deductible for inpatient rehabilitation if Medicare already charged you a deductible for care you received at a hospital during the same benefit period.
