A Medicare supplement broker told me something about "extra lifetime reserve hospital days". What are those and how do they work?

Question

Michael Andrews · Accepted Answer

This answer is provided in a video format. Watch the agent's video response here: https://medicareagentshub.com/questions/medicare-broker-talks-about-medicare-supplement-extra-lifetime-reserve-hospital-days#michael-andrews

Mark Maliwauki · Answer

Medicare provides 60 lifetime reserve days of inpatient hospital coverage, which can be used after a beneficiary has exhausted their standard 90 days of coverage within a benefit period. These reserve days are used only once and can be used at any point during a beneficiary's lifetime to extend their hospital stay.

Answered by Mark Maliwauki on May 28, 2025

Broker Licensed in ID, AZ, CA & 15 other states

Answered by Mark Maliwauki Medicare Insurance Agent

Michael Denniston · Answer

Medicare part A covers hospital stays. When you are admitted into the hospital Part A covers days 1 through 60 after you have paid your co-pay. Days 61 to 90 you pay a daily co-pay. If you stay beyond 90 days you have 60 days lifetime reserve days with a daily copay. If you would like more details, or have a situation in particular you would like to ask about, contact me today, I can help. 888 589 4403.

Answered by Michael Denniston on June 22, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL, AL, AR & 11 other states

Answered by Michael Denniston Medicare Insurance Agent

Paul Potter · Answer

It sounds like you are not comfortable with that agent and that does happen.  Medicare covers your hospital stays and should you use more than 90 days, Medicare covers an additional 60     (lifetime reserve days).  Of course, you pay for your first 60 days in your deductible then on a per day basis for the next 30 days and even more should you get to lifetime reserve days. Medicare Supplement plans help pay for these days AND ADD 365 additional days.

I hope this helps.  If you would like to discuss, you can Email me at PaulPotter@Email.com

Steven Bleicher · Answer

Everyone is entitled to 100 days of hospital service. However, if some folks are not as healthy as most, you are granted additional reserve days up to a total of 150 in your lifetime.

Yasmery Vargas · Answer

If you are on Original Medicare and receive inpatient care in a hospital for longer than 90 days, Medicare Part A gives you an extra 60 days. These are called lifetime reserve days because you can only use them once in your life.

Answered by Yasmery Vargas on April 29, 2025

Agent Licensed in PA

Answered by Yasmery Vargas Medicare Insurance Agent

Dana Dane · Answer

Please go to the link provided below that will take you to Medicare's website explaining your question.

https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/inpatient-hospital-care

John Zentner · Answer

Medicare will give you 60 lifetime reserve days for inpatient hospital care beyond the initial 90 days in a benefit period. These reserve days are used to cover some of the costs after the first 90 days of inpatient care have been used. After using all 60 lifetime reserve days, the individual is responsible for all costs.

Answered by John Zentner on May 5, 2025

Agent Licensed in CA

Answered by John Zentner Medicare Insurance Agent

Fred Manas · Answer

"Lifetime reserve hospital days" refer to an additional 60 days of inpatient hospital care covered by Medicare Part A, beyond the initial 90 days per benefit period. These 60 days are available for use only once during a person's lifetime, but they don't have to be used consecutively or for the same hospital stay. 
How they work:
Original Medicare Coverage: Medicare Part A typically covers up to 90 days of inpatient hospital care in a benefit period. 
Lifetime Reserve Days: If you've exceeded the 90-day limit, you can use your lifetime reserve days to cover additional costs. 
Coinsurance: You'll still pay a coinsurance amount for each of these reserve days. 
Once-Only Use: You can only use these 60 lifetime reserve days once in your life. 
No Benefit Period Requirements: You don't need to be out of the hospital for 60 days to begin using your lifetime reserve days after exhausting your 90 regular benefit period days. 
Medicare Supplements: Medicare Supplement plans can help pay for the coinsurance costs associated with lifetime reserve days, and some plans might even offer additional days beyond the 60 lifetime reserve days, according to the Medicare FAQ.

Tony Hardwick · Answer

In Original Medicare, these are additional days that Medicare will pay for after you've been in the hospital for 90 days. You have a total of 60 reserve days in a lifetime.

Randy Hill · Answer

When you go to the hospital, Medicare Part A pays for your stay but only for a certain number of days.
Here’s the simple way to think about it:

Medicare covers up to 90 days in the hospital for each “benefit period” (that’s like one full visit or one long hospital stay).

If you stay longer than 90 days, Medicare gives you a special gift called Lifetime Reserve Days.

You get 60 extra days that you can use over your whole life — not 60 extra days every year, just 60 TOTAL for your lifetime.

These extra days help pay for hospital stays that are longer than normal.

How they work.

If you’re still in the hospital after 90 days, Medicare will automatically start using your Lifetime Reserve Days, one day at a time.

Medicare pays most of the cost, but you have to pay a daily fee (called a coinsurance amount) for each Lifetime Reserve Day you use.

Once you use up all 60 Lifetime Reserve Days, they’re gone forever and you don’t get new ones.

Simple Example:
Imagine you’re in the hospital for 100 days during one stay:

Days 1–60: Medicare covers almost everything (you just pay a small deductible).

Days 61–90: You pay a daily copay, but Medicare still helps.

Day 91–100: Medicare starts using your Lifetime Reserve Days, and you pay a daily coinsurance each day you stay.

After the 60 extra days are used up, Medicare stops paying for that hospital stay — and you have to pay 100% of the cost for any more days you stay.

Tip:
Some people get extra protection by having a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan. Some of these plans help cover hospital costs so you don’t get stuck with a big bill!

In short:
Lifetime Reserve Days are like extra “bonus days” for long hospital stays but you only get 60 of them for your whole life.

Hope this helps!

If you want, I can also show you which Medicare Supplement plans help cover those costs to make it even easier!

Ingrid Kollmann · Answer

60 Medicare lifetime reserve days provide additional coverage beyond the initial 90-day benefit period in a hospital stay.

Tony Merwin · Answer

These are reserve days available to you in the event you go beyond 90 days consecutively in a hospital stay benefit period. These reserve days are only used when you spend more than 90 days straight in a hospital.

Answered by Tony Merwin on May 19, 2025

Agent Licensed in TX, AR, AZ & 28 other states

Answered by Tony Merwin Medicare Insurance Agent

Patrick Stinson · Answer

Lifetime reserve days are extra days of inpatient hospital coverage in Original Medicare beyond the standard 90 days per benefit period. You have a total of 60 lifetime reserve days that can be used once during your lifetime. For each reserve day, you'll pay a coinsurance fee, and Medicare covers the remaining costs.

Answered by Patrick Stinson on April 27, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX, AR, AZ & 9 other states

Answered by Patrick Stinson Medicare Insurance Agent

Silvana Peacock · Answer

Lifetime reserve days are 60 extra hospital days that Original Medicare gives you to use after day 90 of an inpatient hospital stay. They are not renewable it is one time lifetime deal

A Medicare supplement broker told me something about "extra lifetime reserve hospital days". What are those and how do they work?

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A Medicare supplement broker told me something about "extra lifetime reserve hospital days". What are those and how do they work?

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