Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Coverage Calculator
Enter your hospital stay and the expected length of care to see what Medicare covers in a skilled nursing facility and what you would owe.
Medicare does not simply cover 100 days. After a qualifying 3-day inpatient hospital stay, it covers days 1 to 20 in full. Days 21 to 100 cost $217 a day in coinsurance in 2026, and Medicare pays nothing after day 100. Enter your hospital stay and expected length of stay below for a cost breakdown.
Many people believe Medicare covers 100 days in a nursing home, and are surprised by a bill that starts on day 21. The calculator shows the cost for each part of the stay.
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)
| Days in a benefit period | You pay (2026) |
|---|---|
| 1 to 20 | $0 |
| 21 to 100 | $217 a day, up to $17,360 for all 80 days |
| 101 and later | All costs |
The hospital stay has to qualify. You generally need at least 3 consecutive days as an admitted inpatient right before the skilled nursing stay, not counting the day of discharge. Time under "observation status" does not count, even overnight in a hospital bed. Ask the hospital each day whether you are admitted or under observation.
You have to need skilled care. Medicare pays only while you need daily skilled nursing or therapy for a condition related to the hospital stay. Coverage can end before day 100 when the facility decides skilled care is no longer needed. You can challenge that decision with a fast appeal.
Benefit periods. The 100 days are counted per benefit period. A benefit period ends only after 60 days in a row with no inpatient hospital or skilled nursing care. A new hospital stay inside those 60 days continues the same count.
Who pays the coinsurance. Most Medigap plans, including Plans G and N, pay the $217 a day in full. Medicare Advantage plans set their own skilled nursing copays, and some waive the 3-day rule. Medicaid may pay it for people who have both programs.
For more detail, see the Medicare 100-day rule explained. For care that continues long term, see the long-term care Medicaid estimator.
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. Medicare covers up to 100 days, and only after a qualifying 3-day inpatient hospital stay. The first 20 days have no coinsurance. Days 21 to 100 cost $217 a day in 2026, and coverage stops 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 to 20 have no coinsurance, and Medicare pays nothing after 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 figures for Medicare Part A skilled nursing facility coverage. This tool gives a general estimate, not an official coverage decision, and does not account for differences in Medicare Advantage plans. Confirm your coverage with Medicare or your plan.