The way that Original Medicare measures your use of hospital and skilled nursing facility services. A benefit period begins when you’re admitted as an inpatient in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. The benefit period ends when you haven’t received any inpatient hospital care (or skilled care in a skilled nursing facility) for 60 days. A new benefit period begins if you go into a hospital or skilled nursing facility after one benefit period has ended. You must pay the inpatient hospital deductible for each benefit period. There’s no limit to the number of benefit periods.
