Medicare covers up to 100 days of inpatient rehabilitation per benefit period, but the amount you actually receive depends on medical necessity and the type of facility.

Medicare Part A pays for rehabilitation in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) or inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) only if a doctor orders it as medically necessary following a hospital stay of at least three days. The clock starts on day one of your rehabilitation stay. You do not automatically receive all 100 days — Medicare stops paying when your condition no longer requires the level of care the facility provides, or when you reach the 100-day limit, whichever comes first.

The amount Medicare pays also changes based on how long you stay. Days 1 through 20 are fully covered by Medicare Part A after you meet your deductible. From day 21 onward, you pay a daily coinsurance amount (this amount changes yearly). After day 100, Medicare stops paying entirely, and you become responsible for all costs.

Key Takeaways

  • Medicare Part A covers up to 100 days of inpatient rehabilitation per benefit period if a three-day hospital stay comes first.
  • Days 1–20 are fully covered after your deductible; days 21–100 require you to pay a daily coinsurance amount set by Medicare each year.
  • Your actual stay may be shorter than 100 days if your doctor determines you no longer need inpatient-level rehabilitation.
  • The 100-day limit resets with each new benefit period, which typically begins when you are admitted to the hospital.

What Counts as a may have access to Hospital Stay

Before Medicare will pay for rehabilitation, you must have been admitted to a hospital as an inpatient for at least three consecutive days. The three days must be consecutive calendar days — a day in the emergency room does not count unless you are formally admitted as an inpatient. This three-day requirement exists whether you go to a skilled nursing facility or an inpatient rehabilitation facility after discharge.

The hospital stay and the rehabilitation stay are part of the same benefit period. If you are discharged from the hospital and then readmitted to the hospital later, a new benefit period begins, and you get a fresh 100-day rehabilitation allowance. However, if you leave the hospital, spend time at home, and then enter rehabilitation without a new hospital admission, Medicare will not pay for that rehabilitation stay.

The Difference Between Skilled Nursing Facilities and Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities

Medicare covers both types of facilities under the same 100-day limit, but they serve different needs. A skilled nursing facility (SNF) provides nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other services for patients recovering from surgery, illness, or injury. An inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) is a hospital-level program focused on intensive therapy — typically three or more hours of therapy per day — for patients with conditions like stroke, spinal cord injury, or severe trauma.

Your doctor decides which type of facility is appropriate based on your medical condition and therapy needs. Both count toward your 100-day limit in the same way: Medicare pays for days 1–20 in full, you pay coinsurance for days 21–100, and coverage ends at day 100. If you move from one type of facility to the other during the same benefit period, the days you spent in the first facility count against your 100-day total.

How Your Daily Costs Work During Days 21–100

After day 20, you pay a coinsurance amount for each day you remain in the facility. This amount is set by Medicare and changes each year. For 2024, the daily coinsurance in a skilled nursing facility is $194.50 per day (this figure varies by year). You pay this amount out of pocket for each day from day 21 through day 100.

Some people have supplemental insurance (Medigap) or Medicare Advantage plans that help cover this coinsurance. Others may have Medicaid, which can pay the coinsurance in some states. Check your insurance documents or call your plan to understand what you will owe. If you have no coverage for coinsurance and cannot afford it, talk to the facility's social worker about payment options or financial information programs.

What Happens When Your 100 Days Run Out

Once you reach day 100 of your rehabilitation stay in a benefit period, Medicare stops paying. You become fully responsible for all facility costs from that point forward. The facility must inform you in writing before or around day 100 that Medicare coverage is ending, so you have time to plan.

At that point, you have several options: you can pay out of pocket if you have the funds, you can leave the facility and arrange care at home, or you can explore whether Medicaid or other programs will cover continued care. Some people transition to outpatient therapy at a clinic or at home, which may be covered under different Medicare rules. Speak with the facility's social worker or discharge planner before day 100 to understand your choices.

When Your Benefit Period Resets

Your 100-day rehabilitation allowance is tied to a benefit period, which begins the day you are admitted to the hospital. A benefit period ends when you have not received any hospital or skilled nursing care for 60 consecutive days. Once 60 days pass without inpatient care, a new benefit period begins if you are admitted to the hospital again.

This means if you are discharged from rehabilitation, go home for two months, and then are readmitted to the hospital for a new condition, you start a fresh benefit period with a new 100-day rehabilitation allowance. However, if you are readmitted within 60 days of leaving inpatient care, you are still in the same benefit period, and your rehabilitation days are counted against the same 100-day limit.

Outpatient Rehabilitation and Home Health Therapy

The 100-day limit applies only to inpatient rehabilitation — either in a skilled nursing facility or an inpatient rehabilitation facility. If you receive therapy as an outpatient (at a clinic or hospital) or through a home health agency, different Medicare rules explore, and the 100-day limit does not restrict those services.

Many people transition from inpatient rehabilitation to outpatient therapy or home health therapy to continue their recovery. Your doctor and the rehabilitation facility's team can help you plan this transition before your 100 days end. Outpatient and home health services have their own coverage rules and limits, so ask your Medicare plan or your provider what to expect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use all 100 days if I am ready to leave earlier?

No. If your doctor determines you no longer need inpatient rehabilitation, you can be discharged before day 100. Medicare will only pay for the days you actually stay. Leaving early does not carry a penalty or affect your future coverage.

What if I need more than 100 days of rehabilitation?

Once your 100 days end in a benefit period, Medicare inpatient coverage stops. You may be able to continue therapy as an outpatient or through home health, which have different coverage rules. You can also wait for a new benefit period (which begins 60 days after you leave inpatient care) if you are readmitted to the hospital, though this is not a practical option for most people.

Does my Medicare Advantage plan cover rehabilitation the same way?

Medicare Advantage plans must cover at least the same amount of inpatient rehabilitation as Original Medicare (100 days per benefit period), but some plans may cover more. Check your plan's coverage documents or call the plan to confirm your specific benefits and any coinsurance amounts.

Will I owe anything during days 1–20?

You will owe your Part A deductible (if you have not met it yet in the benefit period) and any coinsurance from your hospital stay. After that, days 1–20 of rehabilitation are fully covered by Medicare. Starting on day 21, you pay the daily coinsurance amount.

Can I choose to stay longer if I want to, even if Medicare stops paying?

Yes, but you will pay the full cost out of pocket. Some people choose to stay longer if they can afford it and believe additional therapy will help. Discuss this option with your doctor and the facility before day 100 arrives so you understand the daily cost and can make an informed decision.