- A benefit period is a set period of time during which Medicare covers certain medical services and supplies. The length of a benefit period depends on the type of service or supply being provided.
- For example, a benefit period for inpatient hospital care begins on the first day a beneficiary is formally admitted to the hospital as an inpatient and ends when they have been out of the hospital for sixty days in a row. If a beneficiary is readmitted to the hospital for a related illness within sixty days of being discharged, the new benefit period will be considered a continuation of the previous one, and they will not have to pay another inpatient deductible.
- A benefit period for SNF care begins on the first day a beneficiary receives skilled nursing care in an SNF and ends when they have not received skilled nursing care or rehabilitation services for 60 days in a row. If a
beneficiary is readmitted to an SNF within thirty days of being discharged, the new benefit period will be
considered a continuation of the previous one, and they will not have to pay another SNF deductible. - It is important to note that the benefit periods described above apply only to Medicare Part A, which covers inpatient hospital and SNF care. Medicare Part B, which covers outpatient medical services and supplies, does not have benefit periods. Instead, the beneficiary is responsible for paying a copayment or coinsurance
for most Part B services, and they are required to pay an annual deductible before their coverage begins.
