Questions & answers · Health insurance
Will Medicare pay for a nursing facility stay after the hospital?
Health insuranceWho paysChecked Nov 6, 2026
From K.Actuary, founded by Sangmin Kwon, ASA · sources checked 2026-11-06 · Source: Medicare.gov View original ↗
In short
- Part A covers skilled nursing care for a short time.
- You first need 3 days in a row as a hospital inpatient.
- Time under observation or in the ER does not count.
What this means
Medicare.gov says Part A covers skilled nursing facility care for a limited time, if you are eligible [1]. Medicare only covers it if you first have a qualifying inpatient hospital stay [1]. That means at least 3 days in a row as an inpatient. The count starts the day you are admitted and does not include the day you leave [1]. Time under observation or in the emergency room before you are admitted does not count, even if you stay overnight [1].
You pay $0 a day for days 1 to 20 after the Part A deductible. Days 21 to 100 cost $217 a day. After day 100 you pay all costs [2].
Your next step
Check whether the hospital admitted you as an inpatient, since time under observation or in the emergency room does not count toward the 3 days [1]. The sources give no deadline.
Check it yourself
Open Medicare.gov, Skilled nursing facility (SNF) care, at https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/skilled-nursing-facility-snf-care and read the part quoted above. Source 2 lists another page to open. Your own plan or policy papers hold details these sources do not give: "Don't know yet" for your case.
Where this comes from (2)
[1] Medicare.gov · checked 2026-11-06
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) covers skilled nursing facility care if you're eligible Covered by Part A For a limited time (on a short-term basis … Medicare will only cover care you get in a SNF if you first have a " qualifying inpatient hospital stay. " This means a prior medically necessary inpatient hospital stay of at least 3 days in a row (starting the day you were admitted as an inpatient, but not includ…
[2] Medicare.gov · checked 2026-11-06
Days 1-20: $0 each day after you pay the Part A deductible. Days 21-100: $217 each day. Days 101 and beyond: You pay all costs
How we found this
We matched your question to 2 official sources, quoted the exact lines, and re-checked each quote against its source on 2026-11-06.
What we don’t know yet
Your own plan or notice may say something different. If your letter cites another rule, send it and we will look again.
Every answer is checked against the official rule it quotes.
Information only — not legal advice. Your plan, insurer or agency decides.
This answer quotes the official sources listed above, with the date we checked them. Your own policy, notice and state rules control. We are not your lawyer or your insurer. We don’t file, argue or negotiate claims for you — you send any letter or form yourself.
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