How many days of hospitalization does Medicare cover per illness?

Medicare covers up to 90 days of hospitalization per illness. This coverage applies to inpatient hospital stays, allowing beneficiaries access to necessary medical treatment without incurring significant out-of-pocket expenses for the first 90 days. After these initial 90 days, if hospitalization is required, beneficiaries may use an additional 60 days of lifetime reserve days, but these days are limited and could have higher costs. Understanding this structure of coverage is crucial for beneficiaries and social workers since it impacts discharge planning and post-hospital care options.