Hospital Insurance
Medicare Part A
Medicare Part A is your hospital insurance — it covers inpatient stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health services.
Most people pay $0 in premiums for Part A. But deductibles and daily coinsurance can add up fast. A local specialist can help you understand your coverage gaps and options — at no cost to you.
$0
Premium for Most People
If you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years, Part A costs you nothing in monthly premiums
How Medicare Part A Works
Medicare Part A is the hospital insurance component of Original Medicare. It primarily covers care received as a hospital inpatient — meaning you have been formally admitted, not just kept for observation.
Part A operates on a benefit period system rather than an annual calendar year. A benefit period begins when you are admitted to a hospital or skilled nursing facility and ends when you have been out of that care for 60 consecutive days. You can have multiple benefit periods in a single year, and each one resets your deductible.
Part A does not cover most outpatient services, doctor visits, preventive care, or prescription drugs — those fall under Part B and Part D. Together, Parts A and B form Original Medicare. Most people supplement Original Medicare with either a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy to limit out-of-pocket exposure.
Key Part A Concepts
Benefit Period
Starts the day you are admitted as an inpatient. Ends after 60 consecutive days out of the hospital or SNF. Each new benefit period resets your Part A deductible.
Inpatient Deductible
$1,676 per benefit period in 2025. This is not an annual deductible — you could owe it multiple times in a year if you have separate hospital stays separated by 60+ days.
Coinsurance Days
Days 1–60 of a hospital stay: covered after deductible. Days 61–90: $419/day coinsurance. Days 91+: draw on your 60-day lifetime reserve at $838/day (2025 rates).
Skilled Nursing Facility
Part A covers SNF care after a 3-day qualifying hospital stay. Days 1–20 are covered fully. Days 21–100 require a $209.50/day coinsurance (2025). No coverage after day 100.
Hospice
Part A covers hospice care for terminally ill patients who choose comfort care over curative treatment. Covered services include nursing, counseling, respite care, and medications for pain.
Home Health
Part A (and sometimes Part B) covers medically necessary skilled nursing or therapy at home — but only on an intermittent basis after a hospital stay or when you are homebound.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Medicare Part A cover?
Medicare Part A is hospital insurance. It covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) after a qualifying hospital stay, hospice care, and some home health services. Part A does not cover most outpatient services — that is covered under Part B.
Do I have to pay a premium for Medicare Part A?
Most people pay $0 for Medicare Part A because they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters) while working. If you have fewer than 30 work quarters, you pay a higher premium. If you have 30–39 quarters, you pay a reduced premium. If you do not qualify for premium-free Part A, you may want to evaluate whether buying in makes sense for your situation.
What is the Medicare Part A deductible?
Medicare Part A has a per-benefit-period deductible rather than an annual deductible. In 2025, the inpatient hospital deductible is $1,676 per benefit period. A new benefit period begins when you have been out of the hospital (or skilled nursing facility) for 60 consecutive days, meaning you could owe this deductible more than once in a year.
How does the Medicare Part A benefit period work?
A benefit period begins the day you are admitted as an inpatient and ends when you have been out of the hospital and not receiving skilled nursing care for 60 consecutive days. Days 1–60 of a hospital stay are covered after the deductible. Days 61–90 require a daily coinsurance. Days 91+ draw from a 60-day lifetime reserve at a higher daily coinsurance.
Does Medicare Part A cover skilled nursing facility care?
Yes — but only after a qualifying inpatient hospital stay of at least 3 consecutive days (not counting the discharge day). Part A then covers days 1–20 of SNF care at 100%, days 21–100 with a daily coinsurance ($209.50/day in 2025), and nothing after day 100. Coverage requires that you need skilled nursing or therapy services, not just custodial care.
When should I enroll in Medicare Part A?
If you qualify for premium-free Part A, you should generally enroll as soon as you are eligible — there is no reason to delay. Your Initial Enrollment Period is the 7-month window around your 65th birthday. If you have premium Part A and are still working with employer coverage, you may want to delay — speak with a Medicare specialist before making that decision.
Questions about your Part A coverage?
A local licensed Medicare plan specialist can walk you through your hospital coverage options, explain your cost exposure, and help you find a plan that fills the gaps — free, no pressure.
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