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What is Medicare Part A? What will it cost me?

Part A: Hospital Insurance

What is Medicare Part A?
Medicare Part A is basically hospital insurance that helps pay for inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility and some home health care.

Part A helps cover:
• Inpatient care in hospitals
• Inpatient rehabilitation facilities
• Long-term care hospitals
• Inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility
• Inpatient care in a Religious Nonmedical Health Care Institution

What will it cost me?
With Original Medicare, there is a Part A deductible of $1,100 that applies before some of these benefits begin. After that, Medicare covers the facility cost for a certain number of days. You will still pay 20% of the approved Medicare cost for physician services in these facilities. You may not need to pay all or part of the deductible and fees if you enroll in a Medicare Advantage or Supplement plan.

Part A insurance itself usually will cost nothing if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while working. This is called "premium-free Part A."

If you aren't eligible for premium-free Part A, you may be able to buy it under certain conditions. In most cases, if you choose to buy Part A, you must also have Part B and pay monthly premiums for both. If your income and resources are limited, your state may be able to help you pay for Part A and/or Part B.

For more complete information, visit medicare.gov.