Medicare Part A: Hospital Coverage Explained
HSChange Editorial Team
Health Policy Research Team, Consumer Health Guidance
Reviewed by Dr. Sarah Mitchell, MD, MPH, Board-Certified Internal Medicine
Last updated: April 4, 2026
Medicare Part A is the hospital insurance portion of Medicare. It covers inpatient care when you're admitted to a hospital, skilled nursing facility stays after a qualifying hospital stay, hospice care, and some home health services. Most people get Part A premium-free because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters (10 years).
2026 Part A Costs
The Part A deductible for 2026 is $1,736 per benefit period (up from $1,676 in 2025). A benefit period starts when you're admitted to the hospital and ends when you've been out for 60 consecutive days. If you're readmitted after 60 days, a new benefit period (and new deductible) begins.
For hospital stays: days 1 through 60, you pay $0 after the deductible. Days 61 through 90, you pay $434 per day coinsurance (2026). Days 91+, you use lifetime reserve days at $868 per day. You have 60 lifetime reserve days total, and they don't renew.
What Part A Covers
Inpatient hospital care (semi-private room, meals, nursing, drugs administered during the stay, and other hospital services). Skilled nursing facility care (up to 100 days per benefit period after a qualifying 3-day hospital stay). Hospice care for terminally ill patients, including pain management, counseling, and symptom relief. Home health care when you're homebound and need skilled nursing or therapy (limited).
What Part A Doesn't Cover
Long-term care or custodial care (help with daily activities like bathing, dressing). Private-duty nursing. A private hospital room (unless medically necessary). Doctor services during a hospital stay (that's Part B). The first 3 pints of blood (you pay for these or arrange a blood donation to replace them).
Part A Premium
If you or your spouse paid Medicare payroll taxes for 40+ quarters, Part A is premium-free. If you worked 30 to 39 quarters, the 2026 premium is about $295 per month. Less than 30 quarters, it's about $535 per month. These situations are uncommon but worth knowing about if you had limited U.S. work history.