See our 42,994 reviews on

Call our licensed insurance agents (TTY 711)

1-855-792-0088

Speak to a licensed insurance agent (TTY 711)

1-855-792-0088

Mon – Fri, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. CT

Table of Contents
Resources

How Medicare Helps With Rehab After Stroke

Written by:
Brenna Swanston
Reviewed by:
Amy Tran
5 min read

Key Takeaways

  • Most strokes are caused by clotting in the blood vessels inside the brain and present with symptoms including difficulty with speech; paralysis, weakness, or numbness; trouble seeing; and confusion or agitation.
  • Patients experiencing stroke symptoms should call 911 immediately to receive emergency medical services and hospital care as soon as possible.
  • Medicare covers both inpatient and outpatient services to prevent and treat stroke and rehabilitate from the longer-term impacts of stroke.
  • After a person experiences an initial stroke, they become more likely to experience another one, but healthy lifestyle changes and preventative screenings can reduce the risk of recurrence.

Does Medicare cover rehab after a stroke? The answer is yes; Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans offer benefits for treatment and rehabilitation following a stroke, as well as medical equipment, therapeutic services, and preventive screenings.

A stroke can cause short-term or long-term disability, including problems with using or understanding speech, poor balance or coordination, muscle weakness or numbness, and memory loss.

To rehabilitate from these disabilities and reduce the risk of recurrent stroke, stroke patients should work closely with a coordinated healthcare team to create and follow a tailored treatment and rehabilitation plan.

Ready for a new Medicare Advantage plan?

A drawing of a person selecting an option

Stroke Symptoms and Complications

There are a few types of strokes:

  • Hemorrhagic stroke: Caused by bleeding
  • Ischemic stroke: Caused by blockages in arteries or veins. Of these, there are two more subtypes:
    • Thrombotic stroke: Caused by clotting in the blood vessels inside the brain
    • Embolic stroke: Caused by clotting or debris that develops elsewhere in the body and travels to a blood vessel in the brain

Ischemic strokes are the most common, making up about 87% of stroke cases. Many strokes present with similar symptoms, though exact symptoms vary depending on which part of the brain is affected:

  • Trouble speaking and comprehending speech
  • Paralysis, weakness, or numbness in the face, arm, or leg, often on just one side of the body
  • Difficulty seeing or double vision
  • Sudden, severe headache
  • Problems with walking and coordination
  • Agitation or confusion
  • Coma
  • Vertigo or dizziness
  • Memory loss
  • Vomiting or nausea
  • Stiffness in the neck

Thrombotic stroke symptoms can appear suddenly, often early in the morning or during sleep. In some cases, they may occur slowly over several hours or days.

Before a thrombotic stroke, an individual might experience one or a series of transient ischemic attacks (TIA), also called mini-strokes. TIAs are generally mild and last between a few minutes and 24 hours, with symptoms similar to those of a stroke.

Some stroke symptoms can turn into temporary or long-term disabilities, such as:

  • Paralysis or weakness
  • Trouble using or understanding speech and language
  • Sensory problems
  • Fatigue, both mental and physical
  • Anxiety
  • Depression

Treating a Stroke

It’s critical to call 911 as soon as stroke symptoms appear. Once you get to the hospital, you’ll receive emergency care, treatment to prevent future strokes, and rehabilitation as needed. If you go to the hospital in an ambulance, life-saving treatment may begin as soon as emergency medical services (EMS) arrive. Once at the hospital, the patient may receive care from a neurologist or a neurosurgeon.

Ischemic Stroke Treatment

Ischemic strokes are the most common type of stroke and are caused by a blood clot in the brain. These types of strokes can be treated with a thrombolytic (a clot-busting drug) if administered within three hours of the stroke occurring. Studies show that tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a type of thrombolytic, improves patients’ chances of full recovery or recovery with less disability and less need for long-term care.

Hemorrhagic Stroke Treatment

Because hemorrhagic stroke involves bleeding, treatment may require additional medications, surgery, or procedures. Endovascular procedures, for example, help repair ruptures or weak spots in blood vessels, while surgical treatment helps stop blood loss due to a ruptured aneurysm.

How Medicare Covers Stroke Treatment

Stroke patients often require several types of care, including emergency medical treatment, inpatient hospital care, and care in a skilled nursing facility (SNF). Medicare provides coverage for multiple types of stroke treatment. Here’s how Original Medicare coverage breaks down for stroke treatment:

  • Emergency stroke care: Medicare Part B helps cover the cost of EMS following a stroke, such as an emergency room visit. The patient pays a hospital copayment, their Part B deductible ($257 in 2025), and a 20% coinsurance on EMS services received after meeting the Part B deductible. If the patient is admitted as an inpatient into the hospital within three days, Medicare waives the hospital copay.
  • Inpatient hospital care: Medicare Part A covers expenses associated with an inpatient hospital stay. Hospital costs depend on the length of hospitalization, but Medicare covers 100% of the costs for the first 60 days of a beneficiary’s hospital stay. After the 60th day, copayments apply.
  • SNF care: Medicare pays for 100% of costs for the patient’s first 20 days in an skilled nursing facility (SNF). The patient then pays $209.50 per day for days 21-100, after which they pay the full daily cost.

If you have a Medical Advantage plan, it must match or exceed the coverage offered by Original Medicare, though the exact terms of coverage and costs vary depending on the insurer, the plan, and the patient’s location, among other factors.

Medicare Rehab After Stroke

Because stroke can cause temporary or long-term disability, patients often require rehabilitation services following their initial stroke treatment. Rehab could involve both inpatient and outpatient care from a coordinated team of healthcare professionals, which may include the following:

Medicare Coverage for Stroke Rehabilitation

Medicare Part B covers rehabilitation services administered in outpatient settings, such as speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Part B also helps pay for medical equipment used in rehab, such as telehealth or a cane or walker. The annual Part B deductible and 20% coinsurance apply.

How To Prevent a Stroke

After a patient experiences an initial stroke, their risk of recurrence is 7.4% within one year and 19.4% within five years, making preventative treatment critical. Patients can prevent additional strokes by making healthy lifestyle changes and by working with a healthcare team to take targeted preventative measures. Common stroke prevention guidelines include:

  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Getting regular physical exercise
  • Refraining from smoking cigarettes
  • Limiting alcohol intake
  • Monitoring and controlling cholesterol levels
  • Lowering blood pressure
  • Treating concurrent diabetes, if applicable
  • Treating concurrent heart disease, if applicable

It’s also important for patients to follow their medical provider’s directions for any prescribed medications, such as antiplatelet medications or blood thinners, which are commonly prescribed to prevent ischemic stroke and TIAs from recurring.

Medicare Coverage for Stroke Prevention

Medicare Part B covers preventative services that can reduce the risk of stroke recurring or happening in the first place. Such services might include:

If a doctor prescribes medications as part of a patient’s stroke rehab plan, the patient will need Medicare Part D to cover any prescription drugs. Part D Plans are available through Medicare-approved private insurers or as part of a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan.

Putting It All Together

Medicare offers coverage for services that can help prevent, treat, and rehabilitate after stroke. Healthy lifestyle habits can reduce the risk of a stroke, However, if symptoms develop, it’s critical to go to the emergency room immediately.

Medicare Part B covers outpatient treatments for stroke patients, while Part A covers inpatient hospital treatments. After their initial treatment, patients may follow a rehabilitation plan to curb the longer-term impacts of stroke. Medicare also helps cover rehab services.

Sources