What is a Benefit Period?
A benefit period is a method used in Original MedicareOriginal Medicare is private fee-for-service health insurance for people on Medicare. It has two parts. Part A is hospital coverage. Part B is medical coverage. to measure a beneficiaries use of hospital and skilled nursing facility (SNF) services. With each new benefit period, the beneficiaryA person who has health care insurance through the Medicare or Medicaid programs. is charged a new benefit period deductibleA deductible is an amount a beneficiary must pay for their health care expenses before the health insurance policy begins to pay its share..
A benefit period begins the day you are admitted into a facility for inpatient careInpatient care refers to care provided in a hospital or other inpatient facility. Inpatients are admitted and stay at least one night depending on their condition..  A benefit period ends when the beneficiary has not received any inpatient hospital care (or skilled care in an SNF) for 60 days in a row for the same medical issue.