Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) Practice Exam

The correct response to the question regarding how long a Medicare patient must pay all costs for a hospital stay is beyond 150 days. Under the Medicare program, specifically in relation to inpatient hospital stays, patients are covered for up to 90 days within a benefit period. In cases where a patient exceeds that limit, they enter into "lifetime reserve days." Medicare provides up to an additional 60 lifetime reserve days, which can be used once the standard 90 days have been exhausted. Therefore, if a patient is hospitalized for more than 150 days, they would be personally responsible for all associated costs after this period, as Medicare would no longer provide coverage. It is also important to note that these Medicare benefit provisions are structured to ensure that patients have access to necessary care while also outlining limits to control costs associated with extended hospital stays. Understanding how these benefit days operate is critical for both patients and retirement planners, as it can significantly influence decisions around healthcare coverage and potential expenses in retirement planning.