Editorial note: Figures on this page reflect the 2026 Medicare program year and are cross-referenced against the official Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) publications. Always confirm current numbers before making enrollment decisions.
What Part A covers
Part A is the "hospital insurance" half of Original Medicare. It generally pays for care you receive while you are formally admitted as an inpatient — plus certain follow-up services after a qualifying hospital stay. The complete coverage list is published on the official CMS Parts of Medicare page.
- Inpatient hospital stays (semi-private room, meals, general nursing, drugs administered during the stay).
- Skilled nursing facility care following a qualifying 3-day inpatient hospital stay.
- Hospice care for those with a terminal prognosis of six months or less.
- Limited home health services, such as part-time skilled nursing or therapy.
- Care from participating religious nonmedical health care institutions.
Who's eligible — and who pays a premium
Most people qualify for premium-free Part A at 65 if they (or their spouse) paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters). If you don't qualify on work history, you may still enroll by paying a monthly premium — the amount depends on how many quarters of Medicare-taxed work you have. See the current Medicare.gov cost page for exact figures.
What you'll still pay
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly premium (most people) | $0 |
| Hospital deductible | $1,736 per benefit period |
| Days 1–60 in hospital | $0 coinsurance after deductible |
| Days 61–90 in hospital | $434/day |
| Lifetime reserve days (60 total) | $868/day |
| Skilled nursing days 1–20 | $0 |
| Skilled nursing days 21–100 | $217/day |
Figures shown for reference. Always confirm current amounts on Medicare.gov.
How enrollment works
If you're already receiving Social Security benefits when you turn 65, you'll be automatically enrolled in Part A (and Part B). Otherwise, you'll need to sign up through the Social Security Administration. Your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period starts three months before your 65th birthday month.
A real-world example
If you're admitted to the hospital for a 5-day stay, Part A pays for the hospital costs after you meet the deductible. If you need follow-up care in a skilled nursing facility, Part A covers days 1–20 at $0. Beginning on day 21 you owe a daily coinsurance until day 100, when Part A coverage ends for that benefit period. Actual costs depend on your specific situation and the services you receive.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming a hospital visit is inpatient — being kept under 'observation' status can leave big bills that Part A won't touch.
- Contributing to an HSA after enrolling in Part A.
- Forgetting that the Part A deductible resets each benefit period, not each calendar year.
- Assuming you'll be enrolled automatically if you're not yet receiving Social Security benefits.
- What: Part A pays for inpatient hospital, skilled nursing, hospice, and limited home health.
- Why it matters: Part A helps protect you from many inpatient hospital costs.
- How: Free for most people at 65 based on work history; still has a per-benefit-period deductible and coinsurance.
Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information. For a complete list of plans in your area, call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY: 1-877-486-2048).