Benefit Period
The time frame Medicare uses to measure your use of hospital and skilled nursing facility services.
Reviewed by Aaron Sims, Licensed Life & Health Agent since 2012
Medicare Term
Definition
The time frame Medicare uses to measure your use of hospital and skilled nursing facility services.
A benefit period begins the day you are admitted as an inpatient in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. It ends when you have not received inpatient care for 60 consecutive days. If you are admitted again after a benefit period ends, a new benefit period begins and you must pay the Part A deductible again. There is no limit on the number of benefit periods you can have.
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