News & Alerts

Inpatient or Observation: Knowing the Difference Could Save You Thousands

Clara’s husband Rick, slipped and fell on the ice, breaking his hip. Unfortunately, he had to spend 4 days in the hospital and then several weeks in the skilled nursing rehabilitation center.  When Clara receive Rick’s medical bill she was shocked.  He was charged for his entire stay at the skilled nursing facility; which Clara knew Medicare normally covered.  After some investigating, Rick and Clara leaned that because Rick was not admitted to the hospital but listed as an “observation stay” status, he would not be covered by Medicare for his stay in the skilled nursing care center.