Medicare does not always pay for skilled nursing care. It’s important to understand the differences so you don’t run into any surprises. It can be very expensive if Medicare does not pay for it.
Different Types of Hospital Admission
Most people don’t know that there are different types of hospital admissions. You may think that if you stay overnight in the hospital that it would be considered an inpatient hospital admission. That’s not always the case!
The two different types of hospital admission:
- Inpatient Admission
- Observation
Inpatient Hospital Admission
This is what most people would expect if they stay at the hospital for more than 24 hours. It really can depend on the doctor and how you are checked in. If you were in a car accident and had significant injuries this would be the type of admission listed on your records.
Admitted to the Hospital for Observation
This one can surprise people. Just because you stay overnight does not mean that you are considered “inpatient”. Hospitals receive different reimbursements depending on how treatments are coded. It’s very possible that you could be listed a just observation. This can have a big effect on how other things are covered especially if you are on Medicare. Watch the video above for more detailed information.
Other Helpful Medicare Videos
If you are starting Medicare here are a few videos that will make things easy for you:
