UNITED STATES—Dear Toni, my husband recently fell from a ladder, shattered his hip, and broke his right leg. After having emergency surgery, Jim is having a stay in a skilled nursing facility for his rehab to learn how to walk on his repaired hip.

A friend recently had a skilled nursing stay and was billed more than expected because she did not have the right amount of time as an inpatient during her hospital stay. I cannot remember the specifics about whether Medicare or Jim and I have to pay for a skilled nursing stay which was discussed in a Toni Says Medicare article.

Please explain what I should be aware of for Jim’s skilled nursing stay. Thanks so much, Toni. —-Terry from Tulsa, Okla.

Hi Terry: The Medicare skilled nursing qualification rule is explained on page 28 of the 2026 Med

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