Question

Which of the following is the best definition of "benefit period" under Medicare Part A?

		The period in which a beneficiary qualifies for Medicare, typically beginning when the beneficiary turns 65
		The 60 day period in which Medicare will cover a hospitalization
		A period that begins the day the beneficiary is admitted to a hospital and ends when the beneficiary has not been in a hospital or skilled nursing facility for 60 consecutive days.
		None of the other options are correct; the term "benefit period" is used only under Medicare Part B

Answer 1

HERE THE ANSWER IS THIRD OPTION

Benefit period measure your use of inpatient hospital and skilled nursing facility services. A benefit period begins the day you are admitted to a hospital as an inpatient or to a nursing facility and ends the day you have been out of the hospital or nursing facility for 60 days in a row.

If you leave a hospital on certain date , but are readmitted within 60 days of the date , you are within the same benefit period. But if you go back into the hospital more than 60 days from the time you left , you are are then in a new benefit period.

OTHER OPTIONS

* Benefit period does not have anything to do with age.

*It is the 60 day period which starts with hospitalization , and ends when you are out of the hospital for 60 days in a row.

*It comes under medicare A