SNF costs and coverage

During a Medicare-covered skilled nursing facility (SNF) stay, Part A Part A Part A, also known as hospital insurance, is the part of Medicare that covers most medically necessary hospital inpatient care, skilled nursing facility (SNF) care, home health care, and hospice care. covers:

• A semi-private room and meals
• Skilled nursing care provided by nursing staff
• Therapy, including physical therapy physical therapy Physical therapy is exercise and physical activities used to condition muscles and regain movement and strength in a body area. It is helpful to improve or restore physical function for those with debilitating illness or injury. , speech therapy speech therapy See Speech-Language Pathology. , and occupational therapy occupational therapy Occupational therapy is therapy that helps you regain the ability to do usual daily activities by yourself, such as eating and putting on clothes.
• Medical social services Medical social services Medical social services include addressing social and emotional concerns related to the patient’s illness and care; helping the patient access community resources to assist in recovery; and counseling for the patient and family. and dietary counseling
• Medications
• Medical equipment and supplies
• Ambulance transportation to the nearest provider of needed services, when other modes of transportation would endanger your health

Each benefit period, Part A covers the full cost of your first 20 days in a SNF. For days 21-100, Part A covers part of the cost and you pay a daily coinsurance. To be eligible for Medicare SNF coverage, your care must be medically necessary.