Religious nonmedical health care institution items & services

Religious nonmedical health care institutions provide care and services to people who don't accept standard medical care because of their religious beliefs.

Part A will only cover the inpatient non-religious, nonmedical items and services, like room and board, unmedicated wound dressings, or use of a simple walker (items or services that don’t require a doctor’s order or prescription).

Medicare doesn’t cover the religious portion of this type of care.

Medicare may cover items and services in religious nonmedical health care institutions only if you qualify for inpatient hospital or skilled nursing facility (SNF) care and meet all of these conditions:

• You get the care from a Medicare-certified religious nonmedical health care institution.
• The religious nonmedical health care institution Utilization Review Committee agrees that you would require hospital or SNF care if you weren’t in the institution.
• You've filed a written election with Medicare that states:
  • You qualify for this type of care based on both your medical needs and your religious beliefs.
  • Your election will be cancelled if you decide to accept standard medical care. After cancelling an election, you may have to wait 1-5 years (depending on how many times you may have previously cancelled you election) before you qualify to get religious nonmedical health care services again. You're always able to get medically necessary Part A services.