The short answer
What does Medicare Part A cover?
Medicare Part A generally helps cover inpatient hospital care, hospice, certain home health services, and limited skilled nursing facility care when Medicare requirements are met. An overnight hospital stay does not by itself establish inpatient status, so patients should ask whether they were formally admitted or kept for observation.
Use this guide to understand the basics, then verify current coverage rules and costs before you enroll.
Care Part A may cover
- Inpatient care in a hospital
- Limited care in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying inpatient stay
- Hospice care for eligible patients
- Certain home health services
Costs to keep in mind
Many people do not pay a monthly Part A premium because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes long enough. Deductibles and daily coinsurance can still apply, and costs can change each year.
- Confirm that a hospital stay is classified as inpatient, not observation.
- Ask whether a facility and course of care meet Medicare coverage requirements.
- Review current costs on Medicare.gov before making a decision.
Part A is only one part
Part A does not replace Part B medical coverage or outpatient prescription drug coverage. Most people need to consider how Part A will work with Part B and any additional coverage they choose.
Ready for your next step?
Put what you learned into practice.
Start with your ZIP code to review plans available in your area, or ask for help from a licensed insurance agent.
Primary sources
- Get started with Medicare — Medicare.gov
- What Medicare costs — Medicare.gov