Medicare Part A Coverage | Part A Costs

Medicare Part A coverage is hospital insurance. It’s one part of what’s often called Original Medicare, which is administered by the federal government. Medicare Part B (medical insurance) is the other part.

Medicare Part A helps pay for care you receive when you are admitted as an inpatient in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. Costs may not be covered by Part A if you are in the hospital for observation.

What Does Medicare Part A Cover?

Medicare Part A covers the hospital charges and most of the services you receive when you’re in the hospital. But it doesn’t cover the fees charged by doctors who participate in your care while you’re in the hospital. Medicare Part B helps pay those costs. The list below shows examples of what Part A covers.

What Does Medicare Part A Cost?

Medicare Part A shares some costs with you if you need to be hospitalized. The table below shows the different costs that may apply. Costs are shown for 2021.

You do not have to pay a premium for Part A if you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years.

Premium
For most people	$0
If applicable	Up to $471 per month
Deductible
Per benefit period	$1,484
Co-payment
Hospital
Days 1-60	$0
Days 61-90	$371 per day
Days 91 and beyond	$742 per day up to 60 lifetime reserve days
Skilled Nursing Facility (per benefit period)
Days 1-20	$0
Days 21-100	$185.50 per day
Days 101 and beyond	You pay all costs
Hospice
Medications for pain and symptom management	Up to $5 per prescription
Durable medical equipment used at home	20% of the cost
Respite care	5% of the Medicare-approved amount

How Medicare Part A Cost Sharing Works

Medicare Part A pays most of the hospital costs for stays up to 60 days. But if you have a very long stay, you could be responsible for a large share of the cost.

These stories may help you understand how Part A cost sharing might work in different situations.