Medicare will pay for a limited number of days in a “skilled nursing facility” (SNF) if your loved one has been recently hospitalized and needs skilled nursing or therapy services.

A SNF is a Medicare-approved facility that provides short-term post-hospital extended care services at a lower level of care than provided in a hospital. You may hear a SNF referred to as a nursing home, convalescent hospital or rest home—but be aware that not all facilities that go by these names are Medicare-certified. Make sure the facility you choose is Medicare-certified.

Medicare will never pay for your loved one to go to a facility that provides custodial and personal care services (such as meals and assistance with bathing and dressing) but does not provided skilled nursing or therapy services.

For more information on when Medicare will pay for SNF care, click on the links in the GO TO box.

For more information on how your loved one can get help paying for a nursing home, click on the NEXT button.