Benefit Period
Medicare Glossary
How Original Medicare measures your use of hospital and skilled nursing facility (SNF) services. Your benefit period begins the day you are admitted for inpatient care, and ends when you've had 60 consecutive days without any inpatient care. If you are admitted to a hospital or skilled nursing facility after your benefit period has ended, a new period begins, and there is no limit to the number of benefit periods.
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation of any specific Medicare plan. Benefits, costs, and availability vary by plan and location. For complete information about your Medicare options, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY: 1-877-486-2048, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Related Articles
Medicare for Veterans: How VA Benefits and Medicare Work Together
Learn how VA healthcare benefits and Medicare interact, why many veterans enroll in Part B, and how VA drug coverage compares to Part D.
Read MoreMedicare and Employer Coverage: Coordination of Benefits
Understand how Medicare coordinates with employer health insurance, including primary vs secondary payer rules, claims processing, and retiree coverage.
Read MoreMedicare Hospice Benefits: What End-of-Life Care Is Covered
Understand how Medicare Part A covers hospice care, including eligibility, the four levels of care, covered services, costs, and electing or revoking the benefit.
Read More