If you or a loved one has experienced a hospital stay and require post-acute care rehab after being discharged, you may wonder how long you’ll be there. You may also worry about the cost of your rehab stay and what Medicare covers.
Learn about the average length of stay for inpatient rehab and what Medicare pays for in this blog from the Optalis team.
Average Length of Stay for Post-Acute Care Rehab
According to the Center for Medicare Advocacy, the average length of stay for inpatient rehab is 12.4 days, and this includes joint replacement, stroke, and other types of rehab. However, the length of stay for post-acute care rehab can vary based on an individual’s needs and personalized treatment plan.
How long it takes a patient to complete their therapy and return home depends on a variety of conditions, including:
- The severity of the injury, health condition, surgery, or illness
- The individual’s overall level of fitness before the health change
- How motivated the patient is to work on their therapy
- Other health conditions that might prolong recovery
Patients who are highly motivated are more likely to fully participate in therapy. The outcome is usually better when patients give it their all.
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Related: Rehab and Therapy Frequently Asked Questions
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What You Can Expect During Rehabilitation
Once discharged from the hospital and admitted as a patient to a post-acute care rehab center, an interdisciplinary team will conduct an individual assessment of the patient. Based on that information, the team will create a personal care plan that is likely to include diet, medication, physical rehabilitative therapy, and education.
You and your family can help your loved one stay motivated to reach their goals by celebrating milestones on the road to recovery. Frequent visits from family and friends can also help encourage patients to keep working hard to meet their goals.
Rehabilitation will likely continue after a patient is discharged, either on an outpatient basis or on their own at home. The support of family and friends can play a significant role in preventing another hospital stay.
About the Costs of Rehab Care
Additionally, many people worry about the cost of rehab care, including how much of the stay is covered by Medicare. After a minimum 3-night qualifying stay in a hospital, Medicare Part A covers the full costs for the first 20 days of care. Then, Medicare charges a per-day co-insurance rate for days 21-100, typically around $200/day. It’s essential to check with any secondary insurance to determine if the plan pays for non-Medicare-covered expenses.
Learn more about Medicare coverage in this Optalis blog: How Much Does Post-Surgery Rehab Cost?
This blog was originally published in 2022 and updated in 2025.
