The benefit period is the amount of time during which Medicare pays for hospital and skilled nursing facility (SNF) services. A benefit period begins the first day you enter the hospital or SNF and ends when you no longer receive hospital care or skilled care in a SNF for 60 days in a row. With each new benefit period, you pay a new deductible. Your coinsurance is determined by the number of days you have been in the facility during each benefit period.