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: $1,632 per benefit period

Hospital coinsurance:

Days 1–60: $0 after deductible

Days 61–90: $408/day

Days 91+: $816/day (lifetime reserve days)

Skilled Nursing Facility coinsurance:

Days 1–20: $0

Days 21–100: $204/day

Day 101+: You pay all costs

DesMost people qualify for premium-free Part A if they (or a spouse) worked at least 10 years paying Medicare taxes.

Fewer than 40 quarters of work? You may pay $278–$505/month in 2024.

Bjorn’s Story: Bjorn only worked 8 years in the U.S., so he doesn’t qualify for premium-free Part A. In 2024, he pays $505/month for Part A.cription goes here

Felicia’s Story: Felicia, age 67, has surgery. Medicare Part A covers her 4-day hospital stay after she pays her $1,632 deductible, with no daily coinsurance for the first 60 days.

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