During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government issued a waiver of the 3-day qualifying hospital stay rule, which states that in order to get a new Medicare benefit period which will cover stays in skilled nursing facilities and rehab centers, you must have a 3-day qualifying hospital stay. This is even IF you have been paying privately for 60 days or longer (there is another rule that will not allow you to get an additional benefit period unless you have been paying privately for at least 60 days). Basically, the rule is that something bad must happen to you in order for the government to give you assistance. This is completely inhumane!

I petition the United States government to extend the waiver of the 3-day qualifying hospital stay rule indefinitely until it can enact legislation to permanently remove it. If people have paid for 60 days, they should get another Medicare benefit period of 100 days. This will help families who have loved ones in care facilities enormously. Please be humane and revoke this rule!