Will Medicare Cover My Mother’s Necessary Nursing Home Stay?

 

Question:

My  mother is in the hospital and I was told she will need to stay at a nursing home before returning home. Will Medicare pay for her visit?

Answer:

In order for your mother to qualify for Skilled Nursing Medicare Coverage she needs to meet certain guidelines, these are:

  • Have been a hospital patient for 3 consecutive days (not counting her discharge date);
  • She was admitted to a skilled nursing facility that is Medicare certified within 30 days of her hospital discharge;
  • She requires skilled nursing or rehabilitation services on a daily basis that as a practical matter, can only be provided on an inpatient basis;
  • Her doctor certifies that she requires skilled care services at the time of her admission.