How Many Days Medicare Covers in a Rehab Facility

Medicare covers up to 100 days in a skilled nursing facility per benefit period, but you pay nothing for days 1–20 and a daily copay for days 21–100

Skilled nursing facility (SNF) care is rehabilitation or medical care you receive after a hospital stay — physical therapy, wound care, medication management, or help regaining strength. Medicare Part A covers this care, but the number of days covered and what you pay depends on how long you stayed in the hospital first and how many days you use.

The 100-day limit resets each time you start a new benefit period. A benefit period begins the day you enter the hospital and ends 60 days after you leave the hospital or SNF, whichever comes last. If you are readmitted to the hospital after that 60-day gap, a new benefit period starts, and your SNF days reset to 100.

Key Takeaways

Medicare Part A covers up to 100 days in a skilled nursing facility per benefit period, but only if you spent at least three days in the hospital first.
You pay nothing for the first 20 days; from day 21 onward, you pay a daily copay (the amount changes each year and is set by Medicare).
Your benefit period ends 60 days after you leave the hospital or SNF, and a new hospital stay starts a new benefit period with 100 fresh days.
If you leave the SNF and return within the same benefit period, your remaining days are available, but you do not get new days until a new benefit period begins.
Medicare does not cover custodial care (help with daily living only) or long-term care in a nursing home; it covers only skilled medical or rehabilitation services.

The three-day hospital stay requirement

To have any SNF days covered by Medicare, you must have been admitted to the hospital as an inpatient for at least three consecutive days. The three days must be in the hospital itself, not in the emergency department or observation status. This is a common source of confusion: if you spent two days in the hospital and one day in observation, Medicare will not cover your SNF stay.

Ask the hospital before discharge whether you were admitted as an inpatient or placed in observation status. If you were in observation, Medicare will not pay for SNF care afterward. Some hospitals will change your status if you ask and if your medical condition supports inpatient admission, but this must happen before you leave the hospital.

What you pay: days 1–20 and days 21–100

For days 1 through 20 in the SNF, you pay nothing. Medicare Part A covers the full cost. Starting on day 21, you pay a daily copay. This copay amount is set by Medicare each year; it is not a flat rate. For 2024, the daily copay is $194.50, but this amount changes annually.

You are responsible for this copay for each day you stay from day 21 through day 100. If you stay fewer than 20 days, you pay nothing. If you stay 50 days, you pay the copay for 30 days (days 21–50). After day 100 in the same benefit period, Medicare covers nothing, and you pay the full cost of care.

Some people have supplemental insurance (Medigap) or are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that may cover part or all of the copay. Check your plan documents or call your insurance company to see what your SNF copay coverage is.

How benefit periods work and when your days reset

A benefit period is not a calendar year. It starts the day you are admitted to the hospital and ends 60 days after you leave the hospital or SNF, whichever is later. During one benefit period, you have 100 SNF days total. If you use 30 days and then leave, you have 70 days remaining in that benefit period.

If you return to the same SNF (or a different one) within that same benefit period, your remaining 70 days are still available. You do not get a new 100-day allotment until a new benefit period begins. A new benefit period begins only when you have been out of the hospital for 60 consecutive days and then are readmitted to the hospital as an inpatient.

Example: You are hospitalized on January 10, discharged to an SNF on January 13, and leave the SNF on February 5 (24 days used). Your benefit period does not end until April 6 (60 days after you left the SNF). If you fall and are readmitted to the hospital on March 1, you are still in the same benefit period, and you have 76 SNF days remaining. If you are not readmitted until May 10, a new benefit period has started, and you have 100 new SNF days.

What Medicare does and does not cover in a SNF

Medicare covers skilled nursing care and rehabilitation services: wound dressing changes, injections, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and monitoring of medical conditions. It also covers meals, lodging, and medications while you are in the facility. The care must be medically necessary and ordered by a doctor.

Medicare does not cover custodial care — help with bathing, dressing, eating, or toileting when that is the only service you need. It does not cover long-term nursing home care or assisted living. It does not cover care in a facility that is not Medicare-certified as a skilled nursing facility. Before you are discharged from the hospital, ask whether the SNF you are being sent to is Medicare-certified and whether your specific care needs (physical therapy, wound care, etc.) are covered.

What to do if you need more than 100 days

If you have used all 100 SNF days in your benefit period and still need care, you have several options. You can pay out of pocket for continued SNF care. You can move to a facility that accepts Medicaid (if you meet income and asset limits). You can receive home health services if a doctor orders them and you are homebound. You can move to a long-term care facility, though Medicare will not pay for it.

Some people may have access to for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid can cover SNF care after Medicare days are exhausted, but Medicaid rules vary by state. Contact your state Medicaid office or a social worker at the SNF to learn what options are available in your situation.

Questions to ask your hospital and SNF

Before you leave the hospital, ask the discharge planner: "Was I admitted as an inpatient for at least three days?" and "How many SNF days does Medicare cover for my stay?" Ask the SNF: "Is this facility Medicare-certified?" and "What is my daily copay starting on day 21?" Ask your insurance company if you have Medigap or Medicare Advantage: "Does my plan cover SNF copays, and if so, for how many days?"

Keep copies of your hospital discharge papers and your SNF admission paperwork. These documents show your hospital admission date, your discharge date, and the reason for SNF care. You will need them if there is a dispute about coverage or if you need to file an appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does observation status in the hospital count toward the three-day requirement?

No. Only inpatient hospital days count. If you spent time in observation, ask the hospital to review your status before discharge. Some hospitals will change it to inpatient if your medical condition supports it, but this must happen before you leave.

If I leave the SNF after 15 days and come back a month later, do I lose my remaining days?

Not if you return within the same benefit period. Your benefit period lasts 60 days after you leave the SNF. If you return before that 60-day mark, you still have your remaining days. If you return after 60 days have passed, a new benefit period has started and you have 100 new days.

What happens on day 101 if I am still in the SNF?

Medicare stops paying. You are responsible for the full daily cost of care. Some people have supplemental insurance that covers this, and some facilities will work with you on payment plans, but Medicare will not pay anything beyond day 100 in a benefit period.

Can I appeal if Medicare denies my SNF coverage?

Yes. If you receive a notice that Medicare is ending your coverage or denying your SNF stay, you have the right to appeal. The notice will explain how to file an appeal. You can also ask the SNF social worker or a patient advocate to help you understand your options.

Does my Medicare Advantage plan cover SNF the same way as Original Medicare?

Medicare Advantage plans must cover at least the same number of SNF days as Original Medicare (100 per benefit period), but some plans cover more or have different copay amounts. Check your plan documents or call your plan to learn your specific SNF coverage.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.