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How Much Does Medicare Pay for Skilled Nursing Care? Skilled nursing care can cost as much as $300 a day. It’s often required for patients who’ve had a stroke, broken their hip, been in a car accident, or worse. Many of the hundreds of clients I’ve served have called with questions when they’re going into a skilled nursing facility. Being ill is scary enough. You don’t want to worry about insurance and who will pay for what on top of that.
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Will Medicare pay for skilled nursing care? If so, how much? And what if they don’t pay?
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To answer these questions, you need to know a few important terms first. Medicare offers a benefit period, or in other terms, a “spell of care.” The Medicare benefit period is 100 days, which begins on the first day of an inpatient hospital or skilled nursing stay and ends after the patient has been out of the facility for 60 days. (There’s a difference between 30 and 60 days out, but we’ll get to that.) There’s no limit on the number of total benefit periods available to a Medicare beneficiary as long as all Medicare requirements are met for each period. Let’s go through a common scenario. Imagine David is in the hospital for four days because of a stroke. Then, he’s admitted to a skilled nursing facility for 20 days. He recovers and leaves the facility for 28 days. Suddenly, David has a complication and falls going to the bathroom, so he has to go back into the nursing home.
Grilled Basil Chicken and Tomatoes
You can’t go wrong with grilled chicken and tomatoes on a warm summer’s evening. It’s a simple recipe that packs a flavor punch.
Because he’s within the 30-day window, there’s no problem. Medicare will pay for that.
Ingredients
• 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 clove garlic • 1/2 tsp salt • 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup tightly packed fresh basil leaves • 8 Roma tomatoes • 4 boneless skinless
However, if David were out of the nursing home for 31 days and then fell, he’d need another three-day stay in the hospital before he could be readmitted to the nursing home and have it covered by Medicare. His doctor would have a hard time admitting David to the hospital for three days over a fall. Since the accident happened outside of that 30-day window, though David’s benefit period technically ends at 60 days, he may still have a more difficult time receiving compensation for this new round of care. But wait, there’s more: Medicare pays 100% of the costs for the first 20 days of skilled nursing care, but after 20 days, there’s a copay for days 21 to 100. As of 2020, that copay is $176 each day. Medicare can be confusing, but with the right help, it doesn’t have to be. Learn more about this topic on our YouTube channel, Omaha Insurance Solutions, or call our team. We’re here for you every step of the way.
chicken breast halves (4 oz each)
Directions
1. For marinade: In blender, combine olive oil, garlic, salt, vinegar, and basil. Cut 2 tomatoes into quarters and add to mixture. Cover and process until blended. Halve remaining tomatoes for grilling. 2. In bowl, combine chicken and 2/3 cup marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Reserve remaining marinade. 3. Heat grill to about 350–400 F. Lightly oil grates. Grill chicken until internal temperature reads 165 F, about 4–6 minutes per side. Grill tomatoes until lightly browned, about 2–4 minutes per side. Discard remaining marinade. 4. Serve chicken and tomatoes with reserved marinade.
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
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