- Reviewed by John Krahnert
4 things to know about Medicare Part A:
- It is hospital insurance that covers inpatient hospital care and certain home care services.
- It is usually premium free if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while working.
- You must have Part A to enroll in Medicare Part B, Part C, or Part D.
- Part A hospital and skilled nursing facility coverage come with deductibles and coinsurance.
Medicare Part A provides hospital insurance coverage. It is one-half of Original Medicare, which consists of Part A and Part B.
Part A is premium free for most people, and you may be automatically enrolled when you turn 65.
Benefits
Part A is considered hospital insurance. It covers a wide variety of services, including the following:
- Inpatient hospital care
- Hospice care
- Skilled nursing facility care
- Certain limited home health services
Costs
Medicare Part A costs come in the forms of premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance.
Medicare Part A premium
Most people do not have to pay a premium for Medicare Part A coverage. The Part A premium will be free if any of the following applies to you:
- You already get Social Security benefits or benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB).
- You are eligible for benefits through Social Security or the RRB but have not filed for them.
- You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.
If you do have to pay the Part A premium, it can be up to $471 each month in 2021.
Medicare Part A deductibles and coinsurance
You may need to pay deductibles or copayments to get certain Part A services covered.
Hospital stay deductibles and copayment (2021):
- $1,484 deductible per benefit period
- First 60 days: No copayment
- Days 61-90: $371 copayment per day
- Days 90+: $742 copayment per "lifetime reserve day"
- Days 90+ if you have no reserve days: Medicare covers nothing
Skilled nursing facility stay deductibles and co-payments:
- First 20 days: No copayments
- Days 21-100: $185.50 co-payments per day
- Days 100+: Medicare covers nothing
