Medicare-approved inpatient hospital services in an HMO Blue Hospital, including a Mental Hospital, for 90 days in a benefit period. (But, Medicare days in a Mental Hospital are limited to a 190-day lifetime maximum.) A benefit period starts on the first day (that is not part of a prior benefit period) on which the member receives covered inpatient services in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. It ends when the member has gone 60 days without being an inpatient in a hospital, skilled nursing facility or similar facility. After Medicare Part A benefits have run out, Medex Choice provides full coverage for an additional 365 days for approved inpatient hospital services in an HMO Blue General, Chronic Disease, and Rehabilitation Hospital. This is a lifetime benefit limit. The Medicare lifetime reserve days must be used before Medex Choice will provide benefits for these additional benefit days.