Skilled nursing facility expenses are sometimes covered by which program, provided the insured was hospitalized prior to entering the facility?

Skilled nursing facility expenses are often covered by Medicare, particularly for individuals who have been hospitalized for a specified period before entering the facility. This coverage is part of Medicare Part A, which includes inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care services.

To qualify for this coverage, the insured typically must have been hospitalized for at least three consecutive days and be admitted to a skilled nursing facility within a certain timeframe after discharge. This is designed to ensure that the skilled nursing facility care is medically necessary and directly related to the hospital stay.

Other options, like Medicaid, do provide assistance for long-term care but are structured differently and often require meeting specific income and asset thresholds. Long-term care insurance is also a valid option but varies by the policyholder's plan specifics, and private insurance can differ widely in the coverage provided. However, Medicare stands out for its structured coverage linked directly to prior hospitalization, making it the correct choice in this context.