My mother was in the hospital for 3 days, and we then decided that she is terminally ill and transferred her to a skilled nursing facility and arranged for hospice. Will Medicare cover the cost of the SNF?
Thanks to everyone! This is what I learned in the meantime, which corresponds to mikejrexec's situation: Even if you need skilled nursing care after a hospital stay, medicare will not cover the room & board cost of such a facility, if you have opted for hospice. If you are not enrolled in hospice services, medicare would pay for some period, depending on your insurance plan (I think it would have been 100 days for my mom). They actually made a distinction between SNF and ICF at the same facility. If you need skilled nursing care and are not participating in hospice, it's a "skilled nursing facility"; if you are participating in hospice and need skilled nursing care, it's an "intermediate care facility" – which is not covered.
Hospice patients receiving care athome are allowed a five day stay in a facility at no cost to give the home care givers a break. What I cant remember is how long is a benefit period
My father was in the same situation. Hospital stay then moved to SNF for hospice care. Medicare paid for the hospice services but not the SNF part. He was private pay with the SNF. He had too much money to qualify for Medicaid. He passed away after about 2 weeks. I'm still waiting for the SNF bill to show up.
Barb -- You are correct. If I wrote otherwise, it was an error. I usually proofread my writing by reading aloud to myself, but I skipped that important step this morning. My apologies to readers here. Although the hospice social worker recommended that I place my husband in the SNF before the financial aspect of his admission was finalized, I was glad I took the leap of faith that the finances would work. With the help of the SNF finance office, they did.
The above answers are correct and useful. In addition to contacting the SNF, ask your mother's doctor whether hospice services are recommended. The doctor needs to recommend. In my case, my husband was under home hospice care and then transferred to a SNF. He was covered by hospice services after he entered as private pay, Medicare pending. He was required to assign his Social Security benefits to the SNF. Learn all you can about Medicare pending.
To the best of my knowledge, Medicare does not pay for long term care. Medicare typically pays for rehab in a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) after 3 days of hospitalization --- but rehab is to get the person up and running again. Medicare does pay for hospice services but typically in a home setting. see page 9 in this file. at medicare dot gov //www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/02154-Medicare-Hospice-Benefits.PDF
It appears to me that your Mom will be responsible for paying for the SNF or whomever signed as the responsible party. I'd suggest you get a meeting with the SNF team to determine responsibility. Good luck to you and your Mom.
Even if you need skilled nursing care after a hospital stay, medicare will not cover the room & board cost of such a facility, if you have opted for hospice. If you are not enrolled in hospice services, medicare would pay for some period, depending on your insurance plan (I think it would have been 100 days for my mom).
They actually made a distinction between SNF and ICF at the same facility. If you need skilled nursing care and are not participating in hospice, it's a "skilled nursing facility"; if you are participating in hospice and need skilled nursing care, it's an "intermediate care facility" – which is not covered.
Medicare does pay for hospice services but typically in a home setting. see page 9 in this file. at medicare dot gov
//www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/02154-Medicare-Hospice-Benefits.PDF
It appears to me that your Mom will be responsible for paying for the SNF or whomever signed as the responsible party. I'd suggest you get a meeting with the SNF team to determine responsibility.
Good luck to you and your Mom.