What Is Medicare Part A?
Medicare Part A is the hospital insurance portion of Original Medicare. It is one of two parts of Original Medicare — Part A covers facility-based care, while Part B covers outpatient services and doctor visits.
Part A pays for care when you are admitted as an inpatient to a hospital, a skilled nursing facility, or a hospice program. It also covers some home health services following a qualifying hospital stay.
What Does Medicare Part A Cover?
1. Inpatient Hospital Care
Part A covers your stay in a Medicare-approved hospital when you are formally admitted as an inpatient. This includes a semi-private room, meals, general nursing care, drugs administered during your stay, and other hospital services and supplies.
Important distinction: You must be formally "admitted" as an inpatient — not placed under "observation status." Observation status is treated as outpatient care under Part B, which has different cost-sharing rules and can affect your eligibility for skilled nursing facility coverage afterward.
2. Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Care
After a qualifying hospital stay of at least 3 consecutive inpatient days, Part A covers care in a Medicare-certified skilled nursing facility. This typically applies when you need rehabilitation (physical therapy, occupational therapy) or skilled nursing services after a hospital discharge.
| Days in SNF | Your Cost (2025) | Medicare Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–20 | $0 | 100% of approved amount |
| Days 21–100 | $209.50 per day | Remainder above your daily cost |
| Days 101+ | All costs | $0 (your responsibility) |
3. Hospice Care
Part A covers hospice care if your doctor certifies that you are terminally ill with a life expectancy of 6 months or less if the illness runs its normal course. Hospice focuses on comfort and pain management rather than curative treatment. You can receive hospice care at home, in a facility, or in a hospital.
4. Home Health Care
Part A (and Part B) may cover medically necessary home health services ordered by your doctor, including skilled nursing visits, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and home health aide services. You must be homebound and under a doctor's care. There is no cost to you for approved home health services under Part A.
How Much Does Part A Cost in 2025?
Monthly Premiums
| Work History | Monthly Premium (2025) |
|---|---|
| 40+ quarters (10 years) of Medicare-taxed work | $0 — Premium-Free |
| 30–39 quarters of work | $285/month |
| Fewer than 30 quarters | $518/month |
Inpatient Deductible & Coinsurance
| Hospital Days | Your Cost Per Benefit Period (2025) |
|---|---|
| Days 1–60 | $1,676 deductible (once per benefit period) |
| Days 61–90 | $419 per day coinsurance |
| Days 91–150 (lifetime reserve days) | $838 per day coinsurance |
| Beyond 150 days | All costs — you pay everything |
Who Qualifies for Medicare Part A?
You are eligible for Medicare Part A at age 65 if you meet any of the following:
- You are a US citizen or permanent legal resident who has lived in the US for at least 5 continuous years
- You or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters (10 years)
- You are receiving Social Security retirement or Railroad Retirement Board benefits
- You qualify based on your spouse's work record (including divorced spouses married for at least 10 years)
You can also qualify for Part A before age 65 if you have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for 24 months, or if you have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
How to Enroll in Medicare Part A
If you are already receiving Social Security benefits when you turn 65, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. Your red, white, and blue Medicare card arrives in the mail approximately 3 months before your 65th birthday.
If you are not yet receiving Social Security benefits at 65, you must actively enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) — a 7-month window that starts 3 months before your 65th birthday month and ends 3 months after.
What Part A Does NOT Cover
Medicare Part A does not pay for the following — these gaps are why many people add a Medigap supplement or Medicare Advantage plan:
- Private-duty nursing
- A private hospital room (unless medically necessary)
- Personal care items (TV, phone, toiletries)
- Long-term custodial care (help with daily activities like bathing and dressing)
- Care received outside the United States (with limited exceptions)
- Dental, vision, and hearing care