Medicare Part A: Hospital Insurance
Last reviewed: June 2026 · Reviewed by Galit Sacajiu MD, MPH
Medicare Part A is hospital insurance — the part of Medicare that covers inpatient care. Most people pay $0 in premiums for Part A if they (or their spouse) worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters).
What Medicare Part A Covers
✓ Inpatient Hospital Care
Semi-private room, meals, general nursing, and other hospital services and supplies during a covered inpatient stay.
✓ Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Care
Short-term care in a skilled nursing facility following a qualifying hospital stay of at least 3 days. Covers days 1–20 at $0 per day; days 21–100 at $216.50/day in 2026.
✓ Hospice Care
Pain relief, symptom management, and support services for terminally ill patients. Available if a doctor certifies a life expectancy of 6 months or less.
✓ Home Health Care
Part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and other services — if you are homebound and your doctor certifies the need.
2026 Part A Costs
| Service | Your Cost in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Monthly premium (40+ quarters) | $0 |
| Monthly premium (30–39 quarters) | $284 |
| Monthly premium (under 30 quarters) | $518 |
| Inpatient hospital deductible | $1,736 per benefit period |
| Hospital days 1–60 | $0 coinsurance |
| Hospital days 61–90 | $433/day coinsurance |
| Lifetime reserve days (91+) | $866/day coinsurance |
| Skilled nursing days 1–20 | $0 |
| Skilled nursing days 21–100 | $216.50/day |
| Skilled nursing days 101+ | All costs (no coverage) |
💡 What Is a Benefit Period?
A benefit period begins the day you are admitted as an inpatient and ends when you have not received inpatient care for 60 consecutive days. You pay the deductible once per benefit period — not once per year. If you are re-admitted after 60 days, a new deductible applies.
What Part A Does NOT Cover
- ✗ Private hospital room (unless medically necessary)
- ✗ Private-duty nursing
- ✗ Personal care items (TV, telephone, cosmetics)
- ✗ Most long-term custodial care
- ✗ Care outside the United States (with very limited exceptions)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Part A free for everyone?+
No. Part A is free only if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters) while working. If you paid for 30 to 39 quarters, the 2026 premium is $284 per month. Fewer than 30 quarters means $518 per month. Most people qualify for free Part A.
What is the Part A deductible in 2026?+
The Part A deductible is $1,736 per benefit period in 2026. This is not an annual deductible. A new deductible applies each time you start a benefit period, meaning you could pay it more than once in a year if you have multiple hospital stays separated by at least 60 days.
Does Medicare Part A cover nursing home care?+
Part A covers skilled nursing facility care after a qualifying 3-day inpatient hospital stay, but only for up to 100 days. Days 1 through 20 are fully covered. Days 21 through 100 require a daily coinsurance payment. After day 100, Medicare pays nothing. Part A does not cover custodial nursing home care (help with daily activities like bathing and dressing).
Does Part A cover home health care?+
Yes, but with conditions. Part A covers part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care and physical, occupational, or speech therapy at home. You must be homebound, and your doctor must order the care. If you need daily skilled nursing care or therapy 7 days a week for 3+ weeks, Part A may not cover it. Part B also covers home health in some situations.
What happens when I run out of hospital days?+
After 90 covered days in a benefit period, you can draw on your lifetime reserve days. Medicare gives you 60 lifetime reserve days total, not per year. Once those are exhausted, you pay all hospital costs yourself. A Medicare Supplement or Advantage plan provides an annual out-of-pocket maximum, which protects you from catastrophic costs.
How to Fill the Part A Gaps
The Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period) and daily coinsurance charges can add up quickly during a long hospital stay. Two options help cover these costs:
Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
Plans like Plan G cover the Part A deductible and daily coinsurance entirely, giving you predictable costs.
Compare Medigap plans →Medicare Advantage
Part C plans replace Original Medicare and cap your annual out-of-pocket spending, including hospital costs.
Compare Advantage plans →