Medicare Part A

Premium and Deductible

Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hospice, inpatient rehabilitation, and some home health care services. About 99% of Medicare beneficiaries do not have a Part A premium since they have at least 40 quarters of Medicare-covered employment, as determined by the Social Security Administration.

The Medicare Part A inpatient hospital deductible that beneficiaries pay if admitted to the hospital will be $1,736 in 2026, an increase of $60 from $1,676 in 2025. Part A inpatient hospital deductible covers beneficiaries’ share of costs for the first 60 days of Medicare-covered inpatient hospital care in a benefit period. In 2026, beneficiaries must pay a coinsurance amount of $434 per day for the 61st through 90th day of a hospitalization ($419 in 2025) in a benefit period and $868 per day for lifetime reserve days ($838 in 2025). For beneficiaries in skilled nursing facilities, the daily coinsurance for days 21 through 100 of extended care services in a benefit period will be $217.00 in 2026 ($209.50 in 2025).

Enrollees age 65 and older who have fewer than 40 quarters of coverage, and certain persons with disabilities, pay a monthly premium in order to voluntarily enroll in Medicare Part A. Individuals who had at least 30 quarters of coverage, or were married to someone with at least 30 quarters of coverage, may buy into Part A at a reduced monthly premium rate, which will be $311 in 2026, a $26 increase from 2025. Certain uninsured aged individuals who have fewer than 30 quarters of coverage, and certain individuals with disabilities who have exhausted other entitlements, will pay the full premium, which will be $565 a month in 2026, a $47 increase from 2025. For more information on the 2026 Medicare Parts A and B premiums and deductibles (CMS-8086-N, CMS-8087-N, CMS-8088-N), please visit https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection.

Here’s what you should know about Medicare Part A:

• Coverage: Medicare Part A primarily covers inpatient hospital care. This means care you receive when you are admitted to a hospital. It also covers skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care.
• Cost: Most people do not pay a monthly premium for Part A because they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes while working. However, if you didn’t pay enough Medicare taxes while working, you may have to pay a premium. There are also deductibles and coinsurance associated with Part A services.
• Deductible: Medicare Part A has a deductible for inpatient hospital stays. Once you meet this deductible, Medicare covers your inpatient hospital costs for up to 60 days with no daily coinsurance.
• Coinsurance: For longer inpatient hospital stays, you may have a daily coinsurance amount. This is a specified amount you will have to pay for each day you are in the hospital beyond a certain point.
• Enrollment: For many people, enrollment in Medicare Part A is automatic when they turn 65, especially if they are already receiving Social Security benefits. If not, they need to sign up during their Initial Enrollment Period, which begins three months before the month they turn 65 and ends three months after.

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