Does Medicare Cover Skilled Nursing (SNF) Care in 2026?

Quick answer: Yes — but it's short-term. Medicare Part A covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility care per benefit period after a qualifying 3-day inpatient hospital stay. In 2026, days 1–20 cost you $0, days 21–100 cost $217 per day, and after day 100 you pay all costs.

Does Original Medicare cover skilled nursing facility care?

Yes — up to 100 days per benefit period

Original Medicare rule · verify your plan at Medicare.gov

Part A covers skilled nursing facility (SNF) care — skilled nursing, therapy, and related services — for up to 100 days in each benefit period, typically after a qualifying 3-day inpatient hospital stay. A benefit period starts the day you're admitted as an inpatient and ends after 60 days in a row with no inpatient hospital or skilled SNF care. In 2026 you pay: days 1–20, $0 per day (after the $1,736 Part A deductible — which you don't pay again for SNF care if you already paid it for the hospital stay in the same benefit period); days 21–100, $217 per day; day 101 and beyond, all costs. This is skilled care — it is not long-term custodial nursing home care, which Original Medicare doesn't cover.

Medicare Advantage: what some plans add

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans must cover SNF care, but the daily copays, prior-authorization rules, and network facilities are set by the plan — some plans also waive the 3-day hospital-stay requirement. Some Medigap policies pay all or part of the days 21–100 coinsurance.

Who this matters to

Anyone recovering from a hospital stay who needs daily skilled nursing or therapy — and families planning for what happens after day 20, when the $217/day coinsurance starts. If long-term custodial care is the real question, see our nursing-home page: that's a different (and mostly uncovered) benefit.

What does Medicare cost you in 2026?

See the current Part A, Part B, and Part D numbers — premiums, deductibles, and the new drug cap — in one place. Free, no signup.

See 2026 Medicare Costs →

Frequently asked questions

How many days will Medicare pay for a skilled nursing facility?

Up to 100 days per benefit period. In 2026, days 1–20 are $0, days 21–100 cost $217 per day, and from day 101 you pay all costs. A new benefit period — and a fresh 100 days — starts only after 60 straight days without inpatient hospital or skilled SNF care.

Do I need a 3-day hospital stay before Medicare covers a nursing facility?

Typically yes — Medicare requires a qualifying 3-day inpatient hospital stay before it covers SNF care (observation status doesn't count toward the 3 days). Some Medicare Advantage plans waive this requirement, so check your plan's rules.

Related Medicare coverage & tools

Does Medicare cover cardiac rehabilitation?

Yes — Part B covers it (you pay 20%).

Does Medicare cover prosthetic devices?

Yes — Part B covers them (you pay 20%).

Does Medicare cover dental?

Dental, vision & hearing under Original Medicare vs Advantage.

Medigap Plans Explained

How supplement plans cover the 20% Original Medicare leaves you.

Comparing plans this year?

Coverage gaps in Original Medicare — like skilled nursing facility care — are exactly what a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan is meant to fill. Our free Enrollment Finder shows the window you can switch in, and the guide library walks through the trade-offs. This page is free to share with anyone weighing their options.

Open the Enrollment Finder →

Official sources

This answer is based on U.S. government Medicare coverage rules: