Part A

Medicare Part A is hospital insurance. It helps cover inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care (after a hospital stay), hospice care, and some home health care.

Inpatient hospital care

Skilled nursing facility care (short-term)

Hospice care

Limited home health care

Premium: $0 for most people

Deductible: $1,736 per benefit period

Hospital coinsurance:

Days 1–60: $0 after deductible

Days 61–90: $434 per day

Days 91+: $868 per day (lifetime reserve days)

Skilled Nursing Facility coinsurance:

Days 1–20: $0

Days 21–100: $217 per day

Day 101+: You pay all costs

Premium Rules (2026)

Most people qualify for premium-free Part A if they (or a spouse) worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters).

If you don’t qualify for premium-free Part A, you can still buy it. In 2026, the monthly premium depends on how many work credits you (or your spouse) have:

30–39 quarters (about 7½–9¾ years): $311 per month

Fewer than 30 quarters (less than 7½ years): $565 per month

(Most people do not pay a Part A premium because they qualify for premium-free coverage.)

Felicia’s Story (2026)

Felicia, age 67, has surgery and is admitted to the hospital for 4 days. Medicare Part A covers her hospital stay after she pays the $1,736 deductible, with no daily coinsurance for the first 60 days of inpatient care.

Bjorn’s Story

Bjorn worked 8 years in the U.S., which equals 32 quarters. Because he has fewer than 40 quarters (10 years) of Medicare work credits, he does not qualify for premium-free Part A.

In 2026, Bjorn pays $311 per month for Medicare Part A.

Part A does not cover everything (long-term custodial care, private-duty nursing, etc.).