Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Coverage Calculator
Enter your hospital stay and expected length of care to see exactly what Medicare covers, and what you'll owe, day by day.
Medicare does not cover 100 days flat. It covers days 1-20 in full (after a qualifying 3-day hospital stay), then requires a $217/day coinsurance for days 21-100 in 2026, and pays nothing at all after day 100. Enter your hospital stay and expected SNF length below for your actual cost breakdown.
"Medicare covers 100 days in a nursing home" is one of the most common myths in Medicare, and it leaves people badly unprepared for the bill starting on day 21. Here's what actually happens, day by day.
Calculate Your SNF Coverage & Cost
Without a qualifying 3-day inpatient hospital stay, Original Medicare Part A generally will not cover this skilled nursing facility stay at all. You'd be responsible for the full daily cost. Note: some Medicare Advantage plans waive this 3-day rule, so check your specific plan.
Your day-by-day breakdown
- Days 1-20
- $0 (fully covered)
- Days 21-100
- Days 101+
- Not covered, full cost
Total Medicare coinsurance you owe (days 21-100)
The "Medicare covers 100 days" myth causes real financial surprises, because it skips over two conditions that decide whether you're covered at all, and a cost that kicks in a lot sooner than day 100. First, coverage requires a qualifying hospital stay: you generally need to have been formally admitted as an inpatient for at least 3 consecutive days immediately before entering the skilled nursing facility. Time spent under "observation status," even overnight in a hospital bed, doesn't count toward this if you were never formally admitted, which trips up a surprising number of people. Second, even once you clear that hurdle, the 100 days aren't uniform. Days 1 through 20 are fully covered with no coinsurance. Starting on day 21, you owe a daily coinsurance, $217 in 2026, for every remaining day through day 100. After day 100 in a single benefit period, Original Medicare pays nothing further for that stay, no matter the reason for continued care. A benefit period itself resets only after you've gone 60 consecutive days without inpatient hospital or skilled nursing care, so a new hospitalization within that 60-day window doesn't restart your 100-day count, it continues it. If you have a Medigap policy, this is one of the areas where it earns its premium: most Medigap plans, including Plans G and N, cover the days 21-100 coinsurance in full, effectively eliminating this cost entirely for policyholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days does Medicare cover in a skilled nursing facility?
Up to 100 days per benefit period, but only the first 20 are fully covered. Days 21-100 require a daily coinsurance payment ($217 in 2026), and Medicare pays nothing at all after day 100.
Does Medicare cover 100 days flat in a nursing home?
No, this is a common myth. Medicare covers up to 100 days, but only if you first had a qualifying 3-day inpatient hospital stay, and only the first 20 of those days come with no coinsurance. Days 21-100 cost $217 a day out of pocket in 2026, and coverage stops completely after day 100.
What is the 3-day rule for Medicare skilled nursing facility coverage?
You generally must have been formally admitted as a hospital inpatient for at least 3 consecutive days (not counting the discharge day) before entering a skilled nursing facility, or Original Medicare won't cover the SNF stay at all.
What is the Medicare skilled nursing facility coinsurance for 2026?
$217 per day for days 21 through 100 of a benefit period in 2026, up from $209.50 in 2025. Days 1-20 have no coinsurance, and there's no Medicare coverage at all past day 100.
What is a Medicare benefit period?
A period that starts when you're admitted to a hospital or skilled nursing facility and ends after you've gone 60 consecutive days without inpatient hospital or skilled nursing care. A new benefit period, with a fresh 100-day SNF allowance, can start after that 60-day break.
Does a Medigap plan cover the SNF coinsurance?
Most Medigap plans (including Plans G and N) cover the days 21-100 skilled nursing facility coinsurance in full, which is one of their more valuable benefits for anyone facing extended rehab or nursing care.
Based on 2026 CMS Medicare Part A skilled nursing facility figures. This tool provides a general estimate, not an official coverage determination, and does not account for Medicare Advantage plan variations. Confirm your specific coverage with Medicare or your plan directly.