Admissions, Medicare & Medicaid
Moving into a nursing facility, whether for a few weeks of rehab or for the long term, raises a lot of practical questions. This guide explains how admission to Trail Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation works, how care is paid for in 2026, and what to bring. If you would rather talk it through, call our team at (817) 263-2224.
How Admission Works
Coming from the hospital
Most short-term patients come to us straight from the hospital. Tell the hospital case manager or discharge planner that you would like to go to Trail Lake Nursing & Rehabilitation. They will send a referral with your medical information, and our admissions team will review it, confirm your insurance benefits and let the hospital know when your room is ready. Patients have the right to choose the skilled nursing facility they go to.
Coming from home
If you or a loved one is living at home and needs more care, call us or contact us to talk about the situation. We will explain the options, arrange a tour and let you know which documents and medical information we will need, including a physician's orders.
Tour first
We encourage every family to visit. Tours are available on evenings and weekends, seven days a week. Our photo gallery gives a first look.
Paying for Care
Trail Lake accepts Medicare, Medicaid and private pay, and we will also bill third-party insurance. Here is how the main options generally work.
Medicare Part A
Original Medicare Part A can cover skilled nursing and rehabilitation in a skilled nursing facility when:
- You had a qualifying inpatient hospital stay of at least three days in a row (not counting the day of discharge; time under observation does not count);
- You are admitted to the skilled nursing facility, usually within 30 days of leaving the hospital; and
- A doctor certifies that you need daily skilled nursing or therapy services.
For 2026, Medicare covers days 1 to 20 in full. For days 21 to 100, you pay a coinsurance of $217.00 per day, which supplemental (Medigap) policies often help with. Medicare does not cover days beyond 100 in a benefit period, and it does not pay for long-term custodial care.
What is a Medicare benefit period?
Medicare counts skilled nursing days per benefit period, not per year. A benefit period starts the day you are admitted to a hospital as an inpatient and ends once you have gone 60 days in a row without inpatient hospital or skilled nursing care. If you are hospitalized again after a benefit period ends, a new benefit period begins, and with it a new set of up to 100 skilled nursing days, provided you meet the coverage rules again. Our team can help you understand where you stand.
Medicare Advantage and private insurance
Medicare Advantage plans and commercial insurance must cover skilled nursing benefits, but they set their own rules for prior authorization, networks and copays, and some waive the three-day hospital stay. We verify your benefits before admission so you know what to expect.
Texas Medicaid
Texas Medicaid can pay for long-term nursing facility care for people who meet both medical need and financial eligibility rules set by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Residents on Medicaid usually contribute most of their monthly income toward the cost of care, keeping a small personal needs allowance. Applying can take time, so start early and ask our team which documents are needed.
Private pay and long-term care insurance
Residents can also pay privately or use long-term care insurance. Please call for current rates for private and semi-private rooms.
What to Bring on Admission Day
- Photo ID, Medicare card, Medicaid card and any insurance cards
- Copies of a medical power of attorney, advance directive or guardianship papers, if you have them
- A list of current medications, allergies and physicians
- About a week of comfortable clothes, including clothes suitable for therapy, plus sturdy non-slip shoes
- Toiletries, glasses, hearing aids and dentures, labeled with your name
- A few personal items, such as family photos, to make the room feel like home
Please leave large amounts of cash and valuable jewelry at home.
Questions to Ask the Hospital Case Manager
- Is my stay inpatient or observation, and how many inpatient days will I have? This matters for Medicare coverage.
- What kind of care and therapy will I need after discharge, and for how long?
- Have the referral and medical records been sent to the facility I chose?
- Which medications, equipment or special treatments will I need when I arrive?
- Is any prior authorization needed from my insurance plan?
Your First Days
In the first days, nurses, therapists, the dietary manager, the social worker and the activity director meet the new resident and complete their assessments. Together with the resident and family, they create a care plan with clear goals, which the team reviews regularly. For rehab patients, planning for a safe return home begins right away.
Your Rights
Every resident has rights under federal and Texas law, including the right to be treated with dignity, to take part in care planning and to voice concerns without fear. A free and confidential long-term care ombudsman is available at (800) 252-2412 to help residents and families resolve concerns.
More Help for Families
Read our frequently asked questions, compare our nursing and rehabilitation services, or contact us to schedule a tour. We are glad to help you through each step.