Medicare Part A Explained: Hospital Insurance
Medicare Part A is hospital insurance. It is premium-free if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters). It covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care. In 2026 the inpatient hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period — not per year.
What Part A covers
- Inpatient hospital care (semi-private room, meals, general nursing).
- Skilled nursing facility care (limited, after a qualifying hospital stay).
- Hospice care.
- Some home health care.
What Part A costs in 2026
Most people pay no premium for Part A. The inpatient hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period in 2026. A benefit period begins when you are admitted and ends after 60 days without inpatient care — so you can have more than one benefit period (and deductible) in a year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Medicare Part A really free?
There is no monthly premium for most people (those with 40 quarters of Medicare-covered work). But you still pay deductibles and coinsurance when you use inpatient services.
What is a benefit period?
A benefit period starts the day you are admitted as an inpatient and ends after you have been out of the hospital or skilled nursing facility for 60 days in a row. The Part A deductible applies each benefit period.
Sources
Related guides
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Medicare Login Guide is an independent resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or any government agency. This article is for general information only — confirm current figures and your specific options at medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.