Only for a short stay. Medicare Part A covers up to 100 days of care in a skilled nursing facility per benefit period, after an inpatient hospital stay of at least 3 days, when your parent needs daily skilled nursing or therapy. In 2026 you pay $0 for days 1–20 (after the Part A deductible), $217 a day for days 21–100, and all costs after day 100 (Medicare.gov).
Medicare does not pay for long-term custodial care in a nursing home (Medicare.gov).
What you would pay: day calculator
Original Medicare, 2026 amounts. Assumes all conditions below are met and the Part A deductible was already paid for the hospital stay in the same benefit period.
The calculator only counts the daily coinsurance. Items Medicare does not cover, such as a private room you asked for, are extra.
The conditions Medicare checks
Medicare covers the stay only if all of these are true (Medicare.gov):
- Your parent has Part A and has days left in the benefit period.
- They had a qualifying inpatient hospital stay: at least 3 days in a row as an inpatient, counting the day of admission but not the day of discharge.
- They enter the skilled nursing facility within a short time, generally 30 days, of leaving the hospital.
- A doctor or other provider has decided they need daily skilled care, such as intravenous medicines or physical therapy, given by or under the supervision of skilled nursing or therapy staff.
- The facility is Medicare-certified.
- The skilled care is for a condition treated during the hospital stay, or a new condition that started during the skilled nursing stay.
Skilled care can be aimed at improving a condition, or at keeping it from getting worse. Coverage does not depend on your parent "making progress" (Medicare.gov).
What the stay includes
Medicare-covered services in a skilled nursing facility include a semi-private room, meals, skilled nursing care, physical, occupational and speech therapy when needed for the person's goals, medical social services, medications, and the medical supplies and equipment used in the facility (Medicare.gov).
When the stay is not covered
| Situation | What it means |
|---|---|
| Hospital stay was "observation" | Observation days do not count toward the 3 days. You may be able to appeal if the hospital changed your status from inpatient to observation (Medicare.gov). |
| Only custodial care is needed | Help with bathing, dressing or eating, without daily skilled care, is long-term care. Medicare does not pay for it (Medicare.gov). |
| Day 101 or later | You pay all costs for the rest of that benefit period (Medicare.gov). |
Paying after Medicare stops
If care is still needed, the usual options are paying privately, long-term care insurance, and Medicaid for people who qualify. Medicaid pays for long-term care only in a nursing home that the state has certified as a Medicaid nursing facility. Many nursing homes are certified for both Medicare and Medicaid, so a resident often does not have to move when the payer changes (Medicaid.gov).
For help with Medicare questions, your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) gives free, unbiased counseling. The hospital discharge planner can also explain what happens next.
Common questions
Do the 100 days reset?
The 100 days are per benefit period. A benefit period ends when you have not had inpatient hospital or skilled nursing care for 60 days in a row. A new hospital stay after that starts a new benefit period, with a new Part A deductible ($1,736 in 2026).
Does time "under observation" count toward the 3 days?
No. Time in the hospital under observation, or in the emergency room before being admitted as an inpatient, does not count toward the 3-day qualifying stay, even overnight. Ask the hospital in writing whether your parent is an inpatient or an outpatient under observation.
Does Medicare Advantage follow the same rules?
Not always. Medicare Advantage plans may waive the 3-day hospital stay and may charge different copayments, including during the first 20 days. Check with the plan.
What happens on day 101?
Medicare Part A stops paying for that benefit period, and you pay all costs. Many families then pay privately, use long-term care insurance or apply for Medicaid.
Related guides
Sources
- Skilled nursing facility care, Medicare.gov. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Medicare costs, Medicare.gov. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Long-term care, Medicare.gov. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Nursing Facilities, Medicaid.gov. Checked November 7, 2026.
This guide explains general rules. It is not medical, legal or financial advice for your situation. Program rules and amounts change, usually each January (Medicare and Medicaid) and each October (VA). Confirm details with the agency or a qualified professional before you decide. See our editorial policy.