What does Medicare Part A Cover?

Medicare Part A covers a variety of inpatient medical services, including:

• Inpatient hospital stays

• Inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility (not custodial or long-term care)

• Hospice care

• Home health care (if medically necessary and ordered by a doctor)

Part A is primarily designed to cover the cost of medical treatment and care that requires a person to be admitted to a hospital or other inpatient facility. It helps to pay for things like a private room, meals, nursing care, and other hospital services and supplies.

It's important to note that Part A has a deductible that must be met before coverage begins, and beneficiaries are generally responsible for paying a portion of the cost of the covered services and supplies, known as the coinsurance or copayment.

Part A is premium-free for most people, meaning that most people do not have to pay a monthly premium to have this coverage. However, if you do not qualify for premium-free Part A, you may be required to pay a premium for this coverage.