Medicare Part A

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)

Medicare Part A provides coverage for inpatient hospital care, as well as skilled nursing facility care, home health services, and hospice care.

For most people, Medicare Part A has a $0 monthly premium. This is because you paid Medicare payroll taxes during your working years. If you worked in the United States for at least 10 years (40 quarters) and paid Medicare taxes, you typically qualify for premium-free Part A.

Although Part A covers many hospital-related expenses, you will still be responsible for certain deductibles and coinsurance costs.

What Does Medicare Part A Cover?

Medicare Part A covers inpatient care, which means you are formally admitted to a hospital or facility for treatment.

A simple way to think about it is that Part A covers “room and board” in the hospital.

This includes:

A semi-private hospital room
Meals during your stay
Hospital medications
Lab services
Medical supplies
Nursing care

In addition to hospital stays, Medicare Part A also helps cover:

Skilled nursing facility care after a hospital stay
Short-term home health care when medically necessary
Hospice care for individuals with terminal illnesses

Hospice coverage may include palliative care, medical equipment, counseling, social services, and short-term respite care for caregivers.

However, Medicare Part A does not cover long-term custodial care, such as extended stays in a nursing home.

Services That May Fall Under Part B

Some services that people assume are covered under Part A are actually covered under Medicare Part B, including outpatient procedures and certain surgeries.

Because hospital services can sometimes be classified as inpatient or outpatient, it’s helpful to verify if you’re unsure how something will be covered.

How Much Does Medicare Part A Cost?

Most Medicare beneficiaries pay no monthly premium for Part A because it was prepaid through payroll taxes.

If you do not have enough work history to qualify for premium-free coverage, you can still purchase Part A.

To purchase Part A, you must generally be a U.S. citizen or legal resident for at least five years.

When Do You Enroll in Medicare Part A?

If you are already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A.

Your Medicare card typically arrives 2–3 months before your 65th birthday. The card is red, white, and blue and printed on durable cardstock.

If you are not receiving Social Security benefits yet, you will need to enroll in Medicare through the Social Security Administration website.

Medicare Part A Cost Sharing for 2026

Even if your premium is $0, there are still out-of-pocket costs when you use hospital services.

For 2026, the cost-sharing amounts are:

$1,736 deductible for each inpatient hospital stay if you have not been hospitalized within the previous 60 days
$434 per day for hospital days 61–90
$868 per day for hospital days 91–150

Skilled Nursing Facility Costs

If you qualify for care in a skilled nursing facility after a hospital stay:

Days 1–20: Covered by Medicare
Days 21–100: $217 per day in 2026

Many people choose Medigap (Medicare Supplement) or Medicare Advantage plans to help cover these out-of-pocket costs.

✅ In simple terms:
Medicare Part A helps cover hospital stays, skilled nursing care, home health services, and hospice care, but it does not cover long-term custodial care.

Medicare has two working parts, Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. Medicare Part A is insurance that covers you for inpatient care. Most people think of inpatient care as a typical hospital stay. However, Medicare Part A covers typical hospital stays as well as inpatient care at mental hospitals and inpatient rehabilitation facilities.

In addition to hospitalization coverage, Part A covers post-hospital skilled nursing and short-term post-hospital home health care.

Medicare does NOT cover long-term care. You can purchase long-term care insurance separately.