Understanding
Part A
Hospital Insurance
Part A helps cover inpatient hospital stays, short-term skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care. Most people don’t pay a monthly premium for Part A if they’ve worked and paid Medicare taxes long enough.
2026 Original Medicare costs. Amounts may change each year.
Premium Cost
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Most people pay $0/month for Part A if they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters.
• If you don’t qualify for premium-free Part A:
• $311/month with 30–39 quarters
• $565/month with fewer than 30 quarters
Dedutible
(Per Benefit Period)
• $1,736 per benefit period in 2026
• A benefit period begins when you’re admitted as an inpatient and ends after you’ve been out of a hospital or SNF for 60 days in a row.
• You may have more than one benefit period in a year.
Inpatient Hospital Stay
(Cost-Sharing)
• Days 1–60: $0/day after deductible
• Days 61–90: $434/day
• Days 91–150: $868/day using lifetime reserve days
• After day 150: You pay all costs
Skilled Nursing Facility
(SNF) Stay cost-sharing
• Days 1–20: $0/day
• Days 21–100: $217/day
• Days 101+: You pay all costs
Cost for Part A (Original Medicare)
Medigap (Supplement Plans)
Premium Cost
• Medicare Advantage premiums and other costs vary by plan.
• You must continue paying your Medicare Part B premium.
• Review the plan’s Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage for specific costs.
Dedutible
• Deductibles vary by Medicare Advantage plan.
• Some plans may have separate deductibles for medical services and prescription drugs.
• Review the plan’s Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage for details.
Inpatient Hospital Stay
• Hospital cost-sharing varies by Medicare Advantage plan.
• Copayments or coinsurance depend on the specific plan.
• Covered Part A and Part B services may count toward the plan’s annual out-of-pocket limit.
• Review the plan’s Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage for details.
Skilled Nursing Facility
(SNF)
• Skilled nursing coverage requirements and cost-sharing vary by Medicare Advantage plan.
• Network and authorization requirements may apply.
• Review the plan’s Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage for specific requirements and costs.
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
When It Applies
You’re formally admitted to the hospital as an inpatient (not “observation”). Prior authorization requirements vary by plan and service
What's Covered
Room/board (semi-private room), meals, nursing, medications and supplies while admitted, operating room/ICU, labs, imaging, and other medically necessary inpatient services.
How Long You're
Covered
Coverage depends on medical necessity and the plan’s coverage requirements.
What You'll Pay
Hospital cost-sharing varies by Medicare Advantage plan.” Covered Part A and Part B costs may count toward the plan’s annual out-of-pocket limit.
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Always ask: “Am I admitted as an inpatient or under observation?”
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Plans differ: Copays, prior authorization, and network requirements vary by plan and service area
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Premium note: You must keep paying Part B (and Part A if not premium-free).
Inpatient Hospital Care
When It Applies
Short-term skilled nursing or rehabilitation care when you meet your Medicare Advantage Plan’s coverage requirements. Coverage requirements vary by Medicare Advantage plan. Some plans may have different requirements for SNF coverage
What's Covered
Semi-private room/board, skilled nursing, physical/occupational/speech therapy, medications and supplies related to rehab, and medical social services. Not long-term custodial care.
How Long You're
Covered
Coverage for Skilled Nursing Facility care varies by Medicare Advantage Plan. Check your plan’s Evidence of Coverage for coverage requirements and limits.
What You'll Pay
Your copayment or coinsurance for Skilled Nursing Facility care varies by Medicare Advantage Plan. Check your plan for specific costs.
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Network and prior authorization requirements vary by plan.
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Plans differ: Copays, prior auth, and networks vary by plan/county—see your EOC.
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Premium note: You must keep paying Part B (and Part A if not premium-free).
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)
When It Applies
You’re homebound and a doctor or other health care provider orders part-time or intermittent skilled home health care from a Medicare-certified home health agency.
What's Covered
Skilled nursing; physical/occupational/speech therapy; home health aide when skilled care is in place; medical social services; certain medical supplies from the agency. (Durable medical equipment is billed separately under Part B.)
How Long You're
Covered
Home health services can continue as long as you meet Medicare’s eligibility requirements and continue to need part-time or intermittent skilled services.
What You'll Pay
Cost-sharing for covered home health services varies by Medicare Advantage plan. Durable medical equipment may have separate cost-sharing. Review your plan’s Evidence of Coverage for specific costs.
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Not 24/7 care; help with bathing/meals alone doesn’t qualify without a skilled need.
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Cost-sharing, prior authorization, and network requirements vary by plan and service area
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Premium note: You must keep paying Part B (and Part A if not premium-free).
Home Health
When It Applies
If you’re enrolled in Medicare Advantage, hospice care is generally covered through Original Medicare while your plan may continue to cover services unrelated to the terminal illness
What's Covered
Care for pain and symptom control: physician and nursing services, home health aide, medications, medical equipment and supplies, social work and counseling, chaplain/grief support, short-term inpatient care, and short-term inpatient respite care.
How Long You're
Covered
Two 90-day periods, then renewable 60-day periods as long as you remain eligible and are recertified. You may change hospices once per period or revoke hospice at any time.
What You'll Pay
Hospice cost-sharing is generally limited, but some services may have copayments or coinsurance. Costs for care unrelated to your terminal illness may depend on your Medicare coverage. Review Medicare.gov or your coverage documents for current costs.
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You can revoke hospice anytime to resume curative treatment.
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Cost-sharing, prior authorization, and network requirements vary by plan and service area
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Premium note: You must keep paying Part B (and Part A if not premium-free).
Hospice
Quick Basics about Part A
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Most people pay no monthly premium for Part A if they worked and paid Medicare taxes long enough.
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You’ll have a deductible and daily cost-sharing for longer hospital or skilled nursing stays.
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Original Medicare does not cover long-term custodial care, private-duty nursing, or most routine dental, vision, and hearing services.
Disclaimer: This page provides general educational information about Medicare Part A. Original Medicare costs and coverage rules may change. Medicare Advantage plan costs, networks, prior authorization requirements, and coverage details vary by plan and service area.