How many days does Medicare cover for rehab in a skilled nursing facility?

If your loved one is heading to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) for rehab after a hospital stay, one of the first questions is usually, “How long will Medicare pay for this?” Here’s the plain version.

Under Original Medicare (Part A), each benefit period covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing care — but “up to” is the key phrase. The 2026 cost breakdown looks like this:

• Days 1–20: $0 per day, after you’ve met the Part A deductible.
• Days 21–100: a daily coinsurance amount (around $217/day this year).
• Day 101 and beyond: you’re responsible for the full cost.

The most important thing families miss: those 100 days are not guaranteed. Coverage continues only as long as your loved one needs daily skilled care and is benefiting from it. If progress stops or skilled care is no longer required, coverage can end well before day 100. That’s normal — but it’s a moment to plan ahead for.

A “benefit period” starts when someone is admitted and ends after they’ve been out of a hospital or SNF for 60 days in a row. A new qualifying hospital stay later can reset the 100-day clock.

Every situation is different, and your facility’s business office and your Medicare plan are the final word on your specific coverage. We’re not a medical or insurance provider and we don’t give medical advice — but if it would help to talk through how SNF coverage generally works as you compare options in Hemet and the Inland Empire, we’re glad to help at no cost.