MEDICARE PART A
Primarily Inpatient Hospital CoverageMedicare Part A
Costs: 2023
Do NOT let these numbers scare you. MOST medicare beneficiaries supplement these costs with either a Medigap plan(Plan F, G, N) or a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Premium:
$0 for most people- 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.
Deductible:
$1,600 for each inpatient hospital benefit period, before Original Medicare starts to pay.
Inpatient Stay:
Days 1-60: $0 after you pay your Part A deductible.
Days 61-90: $400 copayment each day.
Days 91-150: $800 copayment each day while using your 60 lifetime reserve days.
After day 150: You pay all costs.
Skilled Nursing Facility:
Days 1-20: $0 copayment.
Days 21-100: $200 copayment each day.
Days 101 and beyond: You pay all costs.
Hospice Care:
$0 for covered hospice care services
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.