Does Medicare Limit Hospital Stays? 
Yes , Medicare does limit hospital stays . A benefit period is a hospital , skilled nursing facility , or rehabilitation facility stay of 1-90 days -LRB- a new rule proposes that the first overnight stay is covered by Part B , but for now all 90 days are covered by Part A , with only days 61-90 requiring a co-pay -RRB- . After the 90 days , you have an additional 60 `` lifetime '' days that can be used once in your lifetime . Once that benefit period is up , you need to not be confined in a hospital or skilled care facility for 60 consecutive days to qualify for a new benefit period . The number of benefit periods is not limited . 