3 daysInpatient hospital stay required
$0Skilled nursing days 1 to 20
$217Per day, days 21 to 100 (2026)
100Maximum covered days per benefit period
What Medicare covers: short-term skilled care
Medicare Part A covers care in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) when you need daily skilled nursing or therapy, such as rehab after surgery, a stroke, or a fall. To qualify you generally need:
- A hospital stay of at least 3 days as a formally admitted inpatient (time under "observation" does not count),
- Admission to a Medicare-certified facility, usually within 30 days of leaving the hospital, and
- A doctor's certification that you need daily skilled care.
| SNF days | Your cost in 2026 | Medicare pays |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 20 | $0 | 100% of approved costs |
| Days 21 to 100 | $217 per day | All but $217 per day |
| Day 101 and later | All costs | Nothing |
What Medicare does not cover: custodial care
Medicare does not pay for long-term custodial care, which is help with bathing, dressing, eating, and moving around when you do not need skilled care. That is the care most people in nursing homes receive over the long run, and it is not covered whether you live in a nursing home, assisted living, or at home.
How people pay for long-term care
- Medicaid pays for nursing home care if you meet your state's income and asset rules. Medicaid reviews financial transfers made during the 5 years (60 months) before you apply, so giving away assets close to applying can cause a penalty period.
- Long-term care insurance, if you bought a policy before needing care.
- Personal savings and income, sometimes called paying "out of pocket" or "private pay."
- Veterans benefits for eligible veterans and surviving spouses.
Medigap helps with the $217 per day. Medigap plans such as Plan G cover the skilled nursing coinsurance for days 21 to 100. Medicare Advantage plans set their own SNF costs and may require prior authorization.
Always ask: "Am I admitted or under observation?" Observation status counts as outpatient care and can leave you without SNF coverage, even after several nights in a hospital bed.