How many lifetime reserve days does a Medicare beneficiary have?

Medicare beneficiaries have a total of 60 lifetime reserve days for inpatient hospital services. These reserve days are an important part of the Medicare coverage structure, allowing beneficiaries to have additional coverage for hospital stays beyond the standard benefit period limits. Once a beneficiary has exhausted their regular benefit days (which amount to 90 days per benefit period for acute hospital care), they can use these lifetime reserve days to extend their coverage, providing up to an additional 60 days of hospital coverage. This is particularly beneficial for beneficiaries who may face extended hospital stays due to serious health issues. After these 60 lifetime reserve days are exhausted, Medicare does not cover any additional inpatient hospital costs.