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Skilled Nursing Facility coverage may require a qualifying inpatient stay
After a hospital stay, some people need short-term rehab in a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF). Under Original Medicare, SNF coverage commonly requires a qualifying inpatient hospital stay (often described as the “3-day rule”). The 3-day rule does not include the day of discharge. Time in the ER or under observation generally doesn’t count the same way as an inpatient admission.
Why it Matters
People can spend multiple nights in a hospital and still not meet the rule—then SNF costs can fall on the patient.
Action Steps
Ask early: “Does this stay count as an inpatient admission?”
Ask: “Do I meet the requirement for SNF coverage?”
If Medicare Advantage: ask about prior authorization and in-network SNFs.
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