Medicare Part A
Hospital insurance that helps cover inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing, home health care, and hospice services.
Why Medicare Part A Matters
Part A covers the most expensive medical situations like...
A hospital stay, rehab facility, or hospice care can create major medical bills. Medicare Part A helps reduce those costs by covering:
- Inpatient hospital stays
- Skilled nursing facility care after a hospital stay
- Home health care
- Hospice care
This coverage forms the foundation of your Medicare benefits.
What Medicare Part A Covers
Inpatient Hospital Care
- Semi-private room
- Meals
- Nursing care
- Operating room and ICU services
- Medications administered during your stay
- Tests and lab work administered during your stay
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Care
Must follow a 3-day inpatient hospital stay
- Rehabilitation services
- Skilled nursing care
- Specialized therapies
- Daily medical oversight
Home Health Care
- Part-time or intermittent skilled nursing
- Physical, occupational, or speech therapy
- Medical social services
Hospice Care
- Pain management
- Symptom control
- Respite care
- Emotional and grief support for you and your famiy
Medicare Part A Cost Sharing in 2026
Hospital Stays
Days 1-60
- You pay: $1,736 deductible (per benefit period)
- Medicare covers most approved costs after the deductible
Days 61-90
- You pay: $434 per day coinsurance
Days 91-150
- You pay: $868 per day coinsurance
- Considered lifetime reserve days & are limited (use them wisely)
Beyond 150 days in one benefit period
- Medicare pays: Nothing
- You pay: All costs
Skilled Nursing facility (SNF)
Must follow a 3-day inpatient hospital stay
Days 1-20
- You pay: $0
Days 21-100
- You pay: $209.50 per day coinsurance
- up to $16,670 total
After 100 days
- You pay: All costs
Hospice & blood costs
Hospice care
- Covered if you meet Medicare’s hospice requirements
- Small copayment for outpatient medications
- 5% coinsurance for inpatient respite care
Blood
- First 3 pints: You Pay
- After 3 pints: Medicare covers 100% of approved amount
- You pay: $868/day coinsurance
- Considered lifetime reserve days & are limited (use them wisely)
What is a benefit period?
A benefit period starts the day you’re admitted to a hospital and ends when you’ve been out for 60 days in a row.
If you’re admitted again after 60+ days, a new benefit period begins — and you may owe another Part A deductible outlined above. Keep in mind that if you leave the hospital and are re-admitted within 60 days (regardless if it is for the same issue or a different issue), you should NOT owe another Part A deductible outlined above.
Example:
- Admitted January 1st- Pay part A deductible
- Discharged January 5th
- Re-admitted February 10th- No new deductible (within 60 days)
- Re-admitted March 20th- New deductible applies (over 60 days)