Medicare Part A helps pay for hospital stays and inpatient care. You cannot be denied Part A coverage. You may go to any qualified health care provider in the United States who participates in the Medicare program and is accepting Medicare patients.

 

Medicare Part A covers hospital stays and inpatient care, including:

  • A semi-private room
  • Your hospital meals
  • Skilled nursing services
  • Care in special units, such as intensive care
  • Drugs, medical supplies and medical equipment used during an inpatient stay
  • Lab tests, X-rays and medical equipment as an inpatient
  • Operating room and recovery room services
  • Some blood transfusions in a hospital or skilled nursing facility
  • Inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation services after a qualified inpatient stay
  • Part-time, skilled care for the homebound
  • Hospice care for the terminally ill, including medications to manage symptoms and control pain

Premium

  • $0 for most people (because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes long enough while working - generally at least 10 years). If you get Medicare earlier than age 65, you won’t pay a Part A premium. This is sometimes called “premium-free Part A.”
    If you don’t qualify for premium-free Part A: You might be able to buy it. You’ll pay either $278 or $505 each month for Part A, depending on how long you

Deductible

  • $1,632 per benefit period

Copay for hospital stays

  • $0 for days 1–60
  • $408 a day for days 61–90
  • $816 a day for each lifetime reserve day

Copay for skilled nursing facility stays

  • $0 for days 1–20
  • $204 a day for days 21–100

For hospice care

  • You must meet Medicare's requirements , including a doctor's certification of terminal illness.