What Is a Benefit Period?

A benefit period is a specific term used by Medicare to measure your use of inpatient hospital and skilled nursing facility (SNF) services. It begins the day you are admitted and ends when you have not received any inpatient care for 60 consecutive days.

Why It Matters

You are required to pay the Medicare Part A inpatient deductible for each new benefit period. Since there is no limit to the number of benefit periods you can have in a year, you could potentially pay this deductible multiple times.

How Mira Mace Can Help

This concept can be confusing and lead to unexpected bills. Your advocate can help you track your benefit periods, review hospital bills to ensure they are coded correctly, and clarify your financial responsibility for any inpatient stays.