The short answer...It depends.  

The following five conditions must be satisfied in order for Medicare to help pay for care in a Medicare-participating skilled nursing facility:

 Œ  The individual needs daily skilled nursing or skilled rehabilitation services, such as cardiac rehabilitation

 � The individual must have spent 3 days in a row in the hospital before being admitted to a participating skilled nursing facility

 Ž   The individual must be admitted to that facility within 30 days after leaving the hospital

 � The individual must be receiving care in the skilled nursing facility for the same condition that he/she was treated for at the hospital

 �  A medical professional must certify that skilled nursing or skilled rehabilitation services are needed on a daily basis.

Click here for additional information on current Medicare coverage and deductibles.