How Long Medicare Covers Rehabilitation After Hospital or Injury

Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility (SNF) care per benefit period, but only if you meet specific conditions — and most people do not use all 100 days.

The number of days Medicare pays depends on how long you stay in the facility and how your recovery progresses. Medicare does not decide in advance how many days you will receive. Instead, it pays day by day as long as you need skilled care — physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or nursing services that cannot be done at home. Once your condition stops improving or you can manage at home, Medicare stops paying, even if you have days remaining in your 100-day benefit.

The 100-day limit resets each time you have a new benefit period. A benefit period begins the day you enter the hospital and ends 60 days after you leave the hospital or skilled nursing facility, whichever is later. If you are readmitted to the hospital after that 60-day window closes, a new benefit period starts, and you get another 100 days of SNF coverage.

Key Takeaways

Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility care per benefit period, but you must have been hospitalized for at least three consecutive days first.
You pay nothing for days 1–20, you pay a daily coinsurance amount for days 21–100, and Medicare covers the rest after day 20.
Medicare stops paying when your doctor determines you no longer need skilled care, even if days remain in your 100-day benefit.
A new benefit period — and a fresh 100-day count — begins if you are readmitted to the hospital after 60 days have passed since your last discharge.
Rehabilitation in your home (home health care) has different rules and does not count against your 100-day SNF limit.

The Three-Day Hospital Stay Requirement

You must spend at least three consecutive days in a hospital before Medicare will pay for skilled nursing facility care. The three days must be for the same condition or related conditions — not three separate one-day visits. The day you are admitted counts as day one, even if you arrive late in the evening.

If you are admitted to the hospital, discharged the same day or the next day, and then need rehabilitation, Medicare will not cover a skilled nursing facility stay. You would need to pay out of pocket or look into other options, such as outpatient rehabilitation or home health services (which have their own coverage rules).

How Much You Pay Out of Pocket

Medicare Part A covers all costs for days 1 through 20 of your skilled nursing facility stay. You pay nothing during this time, as long as the facility is Medicare-approved and you meet the three-day hospital requirement.

For days 21 through 100, you pay a daily coinsurance amount. This amount changes each year — in 2024, it is $200 per day, but you should confirm the current amount with your facility or Medicare. Medicare pays the rest of the facility's approved charges. After day 100, you are responsible for all costs unless you have a supplemental insurance plan (Medigap) or Medicaid that covers the gap.

These costs cover room, board, meals, nursing care, therapy, and most medical supplies used in the facility. They do not include items like phone calls, television, or personal grooming supplies.

When Medicare Stops Paying

Medicare does not automatically pay for the full 100 days. Your doctor and the facility's care team review your progress regularly. If your condition stops improving or you reach a point where you can safely manage at home with help from family, a home health aide, or outpatient therapy, Medicare will stop covering your stay.

The facility must give you written notice before it stops billing Medicare. This notice, called a Notice of Non-Coverage, explains why Medicare believes you no longer need skilled care and tells you how to appeal if you disagree. You have the right to request an expedited review by a Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) if you believe the decision is wrong. The QIO will make a decision within one business day.

If you stay in the facility after Medicare stops paying, you become responsible for all costs. Some facilities will bill you directly; others may ask you to sign an agreement acknowledging that you understand Medicare has ended coverage.

Benefit Periods and How They Reset

A benefit period is not the same as a calendar year. It begins the day you enter a hospital and ends 60 days after you leave the hospital or skilled nursing facility, whichever is later. During one benefit period, you have access to one 100-day SNF benefit.

If you are discharged from the facility and then readmitted to the hospital within 60 days, you are still in the same benefit period. You do not get a new 100-day count. However, if 60 days pass after your discharge and you are then readmitted to the hospital, a new benefit period begins, and you receive another 100 days of SNF coverage.

This means it is possible to use all 100 days, be discharged, wait 60 days, be readmitted to the hospital, and then have another 100 days available. But if you are readmitted within 60 days, you are working with whatever days you have left from your original 100.

Rehabilitation at Home Instead of a Facility

If you need therapy but can safely recover at home, Medicare may cover home health services instead of a skilled nursing facility. Home health care includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nursing visits, and aide services. You do not pay a daily coinsurance for home health — you pay a 20 percent coinsurance on durable medical equipment and nothing for most other services.

Home health services do not count against your 100-day SNF benefit. You can receive home health care and still have your full 100 days available if you later need to enter a facility. However, you must be homebound (unable to leave home without considerable effort) and need skilled care ordered by your doctor. Routine physical therapy at an outpatient clinic does not may have access to.

What to Ask Your Doctor and Facility

Before you are discharged from the hospital, ask your doctor whether you need skilled nursing facility care or whether home health services would work for you. Ask the facility's discharge planner how many days they expect your stay to last and what your out-of-pocket costs will be. Request a written summary of your expected costs for days 1–20 and days 21 onward.

Ask whether the facility is Medicare-approved and whether your specific condition and therapy needs meet Medicare's definition of skilled care. If you receive a Notice of Non-Coverage, ask the facility to explain in plain language why Medicare believes you no longer need skilled care, and ask about your right to appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I choose to stay in the facility longer and pay out of pocket after Medicare stops?

Yes. Once Medicare stops paying, you can continue to stay if you pay all costs yourself or if another insurance plan covers it. The facility must tell you in writing when Medicare coverage ends and what you will owe. Some facilities offer reduced rates for private-pay patients, so it is worth asking.

Does my Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan cover the daily coinsurance for days 21–100?

Some Medigap plans cover part or all of the daily coinsurance for skilled nursing facility care. Medicare Advantage plans vary widely — some cover the coinsurance, others do not. Check your plan documents or call your plan to confirm what you pay out of pocket for days 21–100.

What happens if I need more than 100 days of care?

After 100 days in a benefit period, Medicare does not pay for skilled nursing facility care. You must pay out of pocket, use another insurance plan, or explore Medicaid (if you meet income and asset limits). Some people transition to home health care or outpatient therapy to continue recovery at a lower cost.

If I am discharged and readmitted within 60 days, do I lose the days I did not use?

Yes. If you used 30 days and were discharged, then readmitted within 60 days, you have 70 days left in that same benefit period. You do not get a fresh 100 days until a new benefit period begins (60 days after your last discharge).

Does outpatient rehabilitation count toward my 100 days?

No. Outpatient therapy — physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy at a clinic or hospital outpatient department — does not count against your 100-day skilled nursing facility benefit. However, Medicare limits outpatient therapy visits, and you may have a copay for each visit.

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.