Fair Square Medicare Wordmark

Does Medicare Have Limitations on Hospital Stays?

Cover image
By Daniel Petkevich
Mar 15, 2024

Medicare Part A provides coverage for hospital inpatient care, but it is subject to certain limitations. Once you have used up your Medicare Part A hospital inpatient days, you may be responsible for covering the costs of any additional inpatient care you receive during the same benefit period.

Stay Up to Date on Medicare!

Join the Fair Square Medicare Newsletter to stay informed on cost savings, changes to Medicare, and other valuable healthcare information.
Here's a breakdown of what happens when you exhaust your Medicare Part A hospital inpatient days:
  1. Benefit Period: Medicare Part A measures your hospital coverage based on benefit periods. A benefit period begins the day you're admitted to a hospital or skilled nursing facility and ends when you've been out of the hospital or skilled nursing facility for 60 consecutive days. If you're readmitted after the end of a benefit period, a new benefit period begins, and you will have a new set of inpatient hospital days available.
  2. Costs After Using Inpatient Days: Once you've used up your allotted inpatient hospital days within a benefit period (90 days), Medicare Part A coverage for inpatient care typically stops. You may be responsible for all hospital costs during this period, including room and board, medical services, and supplies. Sixty 'reserve' days per lifetime may be used if needed) However, Medicare Part B may still cover certain outpatient services and medical supplies.
  3. Part A Deductible and Coinsurance: Medicare Part A also has deductible and coinsurance amounts you may need to pay. There is a deductible for each benefit period and coinsurance amounts for extended hospital stays. These amounts may change annually, so checking with Medicare or your healthcare provider for the most up-to-date information is important.
  4. Medicare Advantage Plans: If you have a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), your coverage for inpatient hospital care may differ from Original Medicare (Parts A and B). Some Medicare Advantage plans offer additional benefits or different cost-sharing arrangements, so reviewing your plan's terms and conditions is essential.
  5. Medigap/Supplement Plans: If you have a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan, it can fill in some gaps in your Original Medicare (Parts A and B). For example, Medigap Plan G will extend your Part A coinsurance up to 365 days, cover you hospital deductible, and skilled nursing co-pays.
  6. Out-of-Pocket Costs: If you need extended inpatient hospital care and no longer have Medicare Part A days available, you may have to pay for these services out of pocket unless you have other supplemental insurance coverage.
It's crucial to understand your Medicare coverage and its limitations. If you anticipate needing extended hospital care or have specific healthcare needs, it's a good idea to explore additional coverage options, such as Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policies, to help offset some of the out-of-pocket costs associated with inpatient care. Schedule a chat with one of our Medicare experts to discuss coverage by scheduling an appointment at

fairsquaremedicare.com

or calling 1-888-454-2383. We're looking forward to talking to you!

Stay Up to Date on Medicare!

Join the Fair Square Medicare Newsletter to stay informed on cost savings, changes to Medicare, and other valuable healthcare information.

Recommended Articles

bearded man holding his head in confusion looking at his laptop stock image
Why Is Medicare So Confusing?
Apr 19, 2023
Unrecognizable person undergoing surgery in the clinic stock photo
Does Medicare Cover Robotic Surgery?
Nov 28, 2022
Cover image
How to Become a Medicare Agent
Aug 30, 2023
Sinusitis. stock illustration
Is Balloon Sinuplasty Covered by Medicare?
Dec 1, 2022
Doctor demonstrating upper cervical spine anatomy stock photo
Does Medicare Cover Cervical Disc Replacement?
Jan 20, 2023
Doctor talking to patients are explaining the treatment of a patient's illness stock photo
How Much Does Rexulti Cost with Medicare?
Jan 24, 2023
Senior person holding tissue roll near a toilet bowl, using walker to walk to the bathroom stock photo
Does Medicare Cover Disposable Underwear?
Dec 8, 2022
Health insurance form on a table with pen, calculator and glasses stock image
What You Need to Know About Creditable Coverage
Jan 18, 2023
Cover image
Fair Square Client Newsletter: AEP Edition
Oct 2, 2023
Diagnosis incontinence stock image
Does Medicare Cover Incontinence Supplies?
Dec 22, 2022
Leg bones and knees, 3d rendering. stock photo
Does Medicare Cover Fosamax?
Nov 30, 2022
various people wearing masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic stock photo
How Does the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Affect Your Medicare?
Mar 3, 2023
breast cancer awareness ribbon stock image
Does Medicare Cover Piqray?
Dec 2, 2022
Philadelphia skyline at sunset stock image
13 Best Ways for Seniors to Stay Active in Philadelphia
Mar 7, 2023
air purifier stock image
Does Medicare Cover Air Purifiers?
Nov 18, 2022
Medigap on a post-it note surrounded by a stethoscope stock image
Do Medicare Supplement Plans Cover Dental and Vision?
Dec 8, 2022
Cover image
The Easiest Call You'll Ever Make
Jun 28, 2023
Cover image
Seeing the Value in Fair Square
May 15, 2023

More of our articles

13 Best Ways for Seniors to Stay Active in Columbus

13 Best Ways for Seniors to Stay Active in Jacksonville

14 Best Ways for Seniors to Stay Active in Seattle

14 Best Ways to Stay Active in Charlotte

2024 Medicare Price Changes

Can I Change Medicare Advantage Plans Any Time? | Medicare Plans

Can I Change My Primary Care Provider with an Advantage Plan?

Can I Choose Marketplace Coverage Instead of Medicare?

Costco Pharmacy Partners with Fair Square

Do All Hospitals Accept Medicare Advantage Plans?

Does Medicare Cover Bariatric Surgery?

Does Medicare Cover Bladder Sling Surgery?

Does Medicare Cover Breast Implant Removal?

Does Medicare Cover Cardiac Ablation?

Does Medicare Cover Cold Laser Therapy (CLT)?

Does Medicare Cover Diabetic Eye Exams?

Does Medicare Cover Exercise Physiology?

Does Medicare Cover Flu Shots?

Does Medicare Cover Geri Chairs?

Does Medicare Cover Hearing Aids?

Does Medicare Cover Home Heart Monitors?

Does Medicare cover Hyoscyamine?

Does Medicare Cover Hypnotherapy?

Does Medicare Cover Iovera Treatment?

Does Medicare Cover Jakafi?

Does Medicare Cover Ketamine Infusion for Depression?

Does Medicare Cover Kidney Stone Removal?

Does Medicare Cover Kyphoplasty?

Does Medicare Cover Linx Surgery?

Does Medicare Cover Mouth Guards for Sleep Apnea?

Does Medicare Cover Nexavar?

Does Medicare Cover Physicals & Blood Work?

Does Medicare Cover PTNS?

Does Medicare Cover Qutenza?

Does Medicare Cover Service Animals?

Does Medicare Cover Stair Lifts?

Does Medicare Cover the WATCHMAN Procedure?

Does Medicare Cover Urodynamic Testing?

Does Medicare Cover Xiafaxan?

Does Medicare Pay for Varicose Vein Treatment?

Does Your Medicare Plan Cover B12 Shots?

Estimating Prescription Drug Costs

Everything About Your Medicare Card + Medicare Number

How Does Medicare Pay for Emergency Room Visits?

How Medicare Costs Can Pile Up

How Much Does a Medicare Coach Cost?

How Much Does a Pacemaker Cost with Medicare?

How Much Does Medicare Cost?

How Much Does Medicare Part A Cost in 2023?

How to Choose a Medigap Plan

Is Displacement Affecting Your Medicare Coverage?

Is Fair Square Medicare Legitimate?

Is Gainswave Covered by Medicare?

Is Vitrectomy Surgery Covered by Medicare?

Medicare Advantage MSA Plans

Medicare Consulting Services

Medicare Explained

Medicare Supplement Plans for Low-Income Seniors

Saving Money with Alternative Pharmacies & Discount Programs

The Fair Square Bulletin: February 2024

The Fair Square Bulletin: June 2023

The Fair Square Bulletin: October 2023

The Fair Square Bulletin: The End of the COVID Emergency Declaration

Top 10 Physical Therapy Clinics in San Diego

What Are Medicare Part B Excess Charges?

What Does Medicare Cover for Stroke Patients?

What Happens to Unused Medicare Set-Aside Funds?

What If I Don't Like My Plan?

What is the 8-Minute Rule on Medicare?

What is the Medicare ICEP?

What People Don't Realize About Medicare

What's the Deal with Flex Cards?

Your Medicare One-Stop-Shop

Your guide to Medicare Parts A & B, Medicare Advantage, and Medigap. 100% free.
Get the Fair Square Bulletin

Medicare savings tips, helpful guides, and more.

About

Medicare 101

Current Clients

Medicare Supplement Plans

Medicare Advantage Plans

Fair Square 2024

Terms of Use
Notice of Privacy Practices

Virgil Insurance Agency, LLC (DBA Fair Square Medicare) and www.fairsquaremedicare.com are privately owned and operated by Help Button Inc. Medicare supplement insurance plans are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. This is a solicitation of insurance. A licensed agent/producer may contact you. Medicare Supplement insurance is available to those age 65 and older enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B and, in some states, to those under age 65 eligible for Medicare due to disability or End-Stage Renal disease. Virgil Insurance Agency is a licensed and certified representative of Medicare Advantage HMO, HMO SNP, PPO, PPO SNP and PFFS organizations and stand-alone PDP prescription drug plans. Each of the organizations we represent has a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any plan depends on contract renewal. The plans we represent do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Plan availability varies by region and state. For a complete list of available plans please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov. © 2024 Help Button Inc

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

MULTIPLAN_FairSquareMedicare_01062022_M