In 2026, if you have Original Medicare, you pay $217 a day for days 21 through 100 of a covered skilled nursing facility stay. Medicare pays the rest for those days. Whether you pay the coinsurance yourself depends on your other coverage: most Medigap plans pay some or all of it, and Medicaid or the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program can help if you qualify.
How does the day count work?
Medicare.gov describes the cost by day, within each benefit period:
| Days | What you pay (2026) |
|---|---|
| 1–20 | $0 |
| 21–100 | $217 a day |
| After day 100 | All costs |
CMS lists the $217 daily coinsurance for 2026. A 30-day covered stay would mean 10 days of coinsurance, or $2,170, before any other coverage pays.
Days are counted across the whole benefit period. If you had a covered stay earlier in the same benefit period, those days count. For how benefit periods work, see the Part A hospital bill and benefit periods. For when Medicare covers a stay at all, see skilled nursing facility bills and Medicare.
Which Medigap plans pay the coinsurance?
Medicare's Medigap booklet shows:
| Medigap plan | Skilled nursing coinsurance |
|---|---|
| A, B | Not covered |
| C, D, F, G, M, N | Covered in full |
| K | 50% |
| L | 75% |
If your parent has Plan G, for example, the $217 a day should go to the Medigap insurer. The nursing home bill should show it billed there. See Medigap plans: what they pay.
What to say to the nursing home business office:
"[Patient name] has a Medigap Plan [letter] with [insurer]. Their plan covers the skilled nursing coinsurance. Has the bill for days 21 and after been sent to them? Please hold the account until they respond."
What if my parent has Medicaid or QMB?
QMB: Medicare.gov says Medicare providers aren't allowed to bill people in the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program for Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, or copays on covered services. That includes the skilled nursing coinsurance. If a parent has QMB and gets a bill for the $217 a day, show the facility the QMB letter. See Medicare Savings Programs.
Full Medicaid: For people with both Medicare and Medicaid, Medicaid may pay the coinsurance. Rules vary by state. See dual eligible: who pays.
What to say:
"[Patient name] is in the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program. Medicare.gov says providers can't bill QMB members for Medicare coinsurance. Can you remove these coinsurance charges and bill Medicaid as needed?"
What other coverage might pay?
- Retiree or employer coverage that pays after Medicare. Check the plan booklet.
- Long-term care insurance, depending on the policy.
- Veterans benefits, in some cases. See VA benefits and Medicare.
Ask the facility to bill each one before billing you.
What if I have Medicare Advantage?
Medicare Advantage Plans set their own skilled nursing copays and may count days differently. Check your plan's Evidence of Coverage. These copays count toward your plan's out-of-pocket maximum. See the Medicare Advantage out-of-pocket maximum.