What Is Medicare Part A and What Does It Cover?

Medicare Part A is the hospital insurance part of Original Medicare. It helps pay for inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and certain home health services. Most people qualify for Part A without a monthly premium, but coverage is not entirely free. Deductibles, coinsurance, and eligibility rules can affect how much you pay.

Understanding what Medicare Part A covers can help you prepare for healthcare expenses as you approach retirement. It is also important to know which services fall under other parts of Medicare and which expenses may remain your responsibility.

What Is Medicare Part A?

Medicare Part A is one of the two main components of Original Medicare. The federal Medicare program generally serves people aged 65 and older who meet eligibility requirements. Certain younger people with qualifying disabilities or medical conditions may also qualify.

Original Medicare includes:

• Part A: Hospital insurance.
• Part B: Medical insurance, including many doctor visits, outpatient services, and preventive care.

Medicare also offers Part C, known as Medicare Advantage, through private insurance companies approved by Medicare. Part D provides prescription drug coverage through Medicare drug plans or eligible Medicare Advantage plans.

Part A focuses primarily on inpatient and related care. However, the program does not automatically pay every bill associated with a hospital stay or other covered service.

What Does Medicare Part A Cover?

Medicare Part A covers several categories of care when you meet the applicable eligibility and coverage requirements.

1. Inpatient Hospital Care

Part A helps pay for covered inpatient hospital services when a doctor formally admits you to a hospital. Covered services generally include:

• A semiprivate hospital room.
• Meals during your stay.
• General nursing care.
• Certain medications administered during your stay.
• Hospital services, supplies, and other necessary inpatient treatment.

Coverage generally applies to eligible inpatient stays at Medicare-participating hospitals, including critical access hospitals.

However, spending a night in a hospital does not automatically make your stay an inpatient admission. You may receive outpatient observation services instead. Your official admission status can affect which Medicare benefits apply.

Part A also has cost-sharing requirements and limits for certain types of care. For example, inpatient psychiatric care in a freestanding psychiatric hospital has a lifetime coverage limit under Original Medicare.

2. Skilled Nursing Facility Care

Part A may cover short-term skilled nursing facility care following an illness, injury, or hospital stay.

This care can include rehabilitation, skilled nursing, and certain medical treatments that require professional assistance.

Coverage is conditional. You must meet Medicare’s requirements, which can include a qualifying inpatient hospital stay, a need for daily skilled care, and treatment at a Medicare-certified facility.

Part A does not generally cover long-term nursing home care when you need only help with everyday activities. This type of assistance is often called custodial care.

For example, someone who needs temporary rehabilitation after a serious injury may qualify for skilled nursing facility coverage. Someone who needs ongoing help with bathing, dressing, or eating but does not require skilled medical care generally does not qualify for Part A coverage on that basis alone.

3. Hospice Care

Medicare Part A helps cover hospice services for eligible people with a terminal illness who meet Medicare’s medical and election requirements.

Covered hospice services can include:

• Medical and nursing care.
• Pain and symptom management.
• Certain prescription drugs for symptom control and pain relief.
• Medical equipment and supplies related to the terminal illness.
• Support services for the patient and family.
• Certain short-term inpatient care when necessary.

Hospice care focuses on comfort and quality of life rather than curing the terminal illness.

Coverage follows specific Medicare rules. For example, hospice care generally requires choosing hospice treatment under Medicare’s guidelines. Services unrelated to the terminal illness may be handled differently.

4. Certain Home Health Services

Part A can help cover eligible home health services, although Part B also covers many home health benefits.

Depending on the circumstances, covered services may include intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology services, and other qualifying care.

Medicare generally requires that the services be medically necessary and that you meet its home health eligibility criteria. These requirements may include being considered homebound and receiving care through a Medicare-certified home health agency.

Part A does not pay for unlimited assistance at home. It generally does not cover round-the-clock home care, meal delivery, or personal care when that is the only assistance needed.

How Much Does Medicare Part A Cost in 2026?

Most eligible beneficiaries do not pay a monthly premium for Part A because they or their spouse have paid Medicare taxes for a sufficient period. However, premium-free eligibility is not automatic for everyone.

Even when your monthly premium is $0, you may still have to pay deductibles and coinsurance.

The following figures apply to Original Medicare in 2026.

For covered inpatient hospital care, you generally pay the deductible first. After that, Original Medicare covers the applicable share of eligible costs during the first 60 days of a benefit period.

Longer stays can lead to additional coinsurance. After day 150 of a covered inpatient hospital stay, you generally pay all costs under Original Medicare.

Skilled nursing facility coverage has a separate cost structure. For covered care, days 1–20 generally have no daily coinsurance, while days 21–100 carry the daily amount shown above. You pay all costs after day 100.

These figures do not apply identically to every Medicare plan. Medicare Advantage plans may have different cost-sharing arrangements.

A benefit period also differs from a calendar year. Depending on how long you go without inpatient hospital or skilled nursing facility care, more than one benefit period may occur in a year. You could therefore owe the Part A deductible more than once.

For current details, consult Medicare’s official cost guide.

Who Is Eligible for Medicare Part A?

Most people become eligible for Medicare around age 65 if they meet the applicable citizenship or residency requirements. Some people qualify earlier because of certain disabilities, end-stage renal disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Whether you qualify for premium-free Part A depends largely on your work history or that of an eligible spouse. In general, people who have paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years may qualify without a monthly Part A premium.

People who do not meet the work-history requirement may still be able to purchase Part A if they meet the program’s eligibility conditions.

Some people receive Medicare enrollment automatically, while others must apply. Your circumstances, including whether you already receive Social Security benefits, can affect the process.

The initial enrollment period generally begins three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after that month. Special rules and exceptions may apply.

You can review the requirements through Medicare’s official enrollment guide.

What Does Medicare Part A Not Cover?

Medicare Part A provides important coverage, but it does not pay for every type of healthcare or personal assistance.

Common exclusions or limitations under Original Medicare include:

• Long-term custodial care when personal assistance is the only care needed.
• Most routine dental care and dentures.
• Routine eye exams for prescription glasses.
• Hearing aids and most related fitting exams.
• Private-duty nursing.
• Certain personal convenience items during a hospital stay.

Some services may be covered under different circumstances or through other insurance. For example, Medicare Part B covers many outpatient medical services and certain home health benefits.

Medicare Advantage plans may also offer additional benefits, depending on the plan. However, coverage varies, and additional benefits should not be assumed.

If you are planning for long-term care, it is especially important to distinguish skilled medical treatment from ongoing assistance with daily living. They are not covered in the same way.

Medicare Part A vs. Part B: What’s the Difference?

Part A and Part B work together under Original Medicare, but they cover different types of care.

Many people enroll in both parts because they cover different healthcare needs. Part A alone does not provide comprehensive health insurance.

Part D may help cover prescription drugs, while Medigap is supplemental insurance that can help pay certain out-of-pocket costs for people with Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage is another way to receive Medicare coverage.

The right coverage structure depends on eligibility, healthcare needs, costs, and available options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Medicare Part A free?

Part A has no monthly premium for most people who meet the work-history requirements. However, beneficiaries can still owe deductibles, coinsurance, and other costs. Some people must pay a monthly premium to obtain Part A.

Does Medicare Part A cover all hospital expenses?

No. Part A covers eligible inpatient services under Medicare’s rules. Deductibles, coinsurance, coverage limits, and excluded services can leave beneficiaries responsible for some expenses.

Does Medicare Part A cover nursing home care?

Part A may cover qualifying short-term skilled nursing facility care under specific conditions. It generally does not cover long-term custodial care when that is the only care needed.

Does Medicare Part A cover prescription drugs?

Part A may cover certain medications provided as part of eligible inpatient hospital care, hospice services, or covered skilled nursing facility care. It is not a substitute for comprehensive outpatient prescription drug coverage. Medicare Part D helps cover many outpatient prescription medications.

Can I have Medicare Part A without Part B?

Yes, some people have Part A without Part B. However, Part A does not cover many outpatient services and doctor visits. Enrollment decisions can have financial and coverage consequences, so check the official rules before delaying enrollment.

Bottom Line

Medicare Part A helps pay for eligible inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice services, and certain home health services. Most eligible beneficiaries receive it without a monthly premium, but deductibles and coinsurance can still create substantial expenses.

Before relying on Part A for a particular service, check the coverage conditions, your expected cost-sharing, and whether another part of Medicare or supplemental insurance may apply.

For the most reliable information, verify current rules and costs directly with Medicare.gov. This article provides general information and is not individualized financial, insurance, legal, or medical advice.

Sources

• Medicare.gov — What Part A Covers
• Medicare.gov — What Does Medicare Cost?
• Medicare.gov — Inpatient Hospital Care
• Medicare.gov — Skilled Nursing Facilities
• Medicare.gov — What Is Not Covered
• Medicare.gov — When Can I Sign Up for Medicare?