Understanding Medicare Part A costs and coverage

Part A is one part of Original Medicare, and it helps cover costs for inpatient stays, inpatient mental health, skilled nursing, and hospice care. You may already be enrolled in Part A if you’re receiving Social Security payments or disability. Read on to learn more about what Part A covers fully, what is covered partially, and what cost may be associated with your plan.  

 

Part A Inpatient and hospital coverage  

What’s covered by Part A:  

• Skilled nursing facility care 
• Inpatient hospital services 
• Some home-health services and hospice 
   

What’s covered for inpatient hospital stays by Part A: 

• Overnight hospital stays 
• Semi-private room 
• Meals 
• General nursing 
• Medications included in your treatment 
• Some other services and supplies 
   

How is my inpatient hospital stay covered by Part A?  

Depending on how long you stay, you’ll first pay an inpatient hospital deductible. For each benefit period, you’ll pay an inpatient hospital deductible before Medicare begins to pay. In 2026, this deductible is totals $1,736.   

A complete cost breakdown of an inpatient hospital stay includes: 

• Days 1–60: $0 after you meet your Part A deductible $1,736. 
• Days 61–90: $434 per day. 
• Days 91 and beyond: $868 per day for each lifetime reserve day (up to a maximum 60 reserve days over your lifetime). 

Each day after you use all of your lifetime reserve days, you’ll be responsible for all costs. After day 90, you enter your bank of “lifetime reserve days,” which is up to 60 reserve days of inpatient hospital coverage that can be used over your lifetime. Once you’ve used these up, you’ll be responsible for all costs. 
 

What’s covered for skilled nursing facility stays by Part A:

Skilled nursing facilities give a high level of medical care such as: 

• Wound care 
• IVs 
• Injections 
• Physical therapy 
• Monitoring vital signs 

These facilities may be used for rehabilitation after an injury, stroke, or other serious conditions. They may also provide skilled nursing or therapy services for people who need ongoing medical care and monitoring but no longer require inpatient hospital care.
 

How is my skilled nursing facility stay covered by Part A?  

Part A covers 100% of the cost for the first 20 days of a qualified stay. If you are admitted for longer, you will pay $217 per day in 2026 for days 21 through 100. After 100 days, you will be responsible for all costs. Coverage applies only if Medicare requirements are met, such as having a qualifying hospital stay and needing medically necessary skilled care.
 

What’s covered for inpatient mental health by Part A:

Part A covers admittance to an inpatient mental health facility or psychiatric hospital for 90 days per illness with a 60-day lifetime reserve for a maximum of 190 days over your lifetime. The 190-day limit doesn’t apply to certified psychiatric units.

The costs for an inpatient mental health stay are the same as inpatient hospital stay costs. For the doctor’s care, you will generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for mental health services you get from doctors and other health care providers while you're a hospital inpatient. You can get these inpatient services either in a general hospital or a psychiatric hospital (a facility that only cares for people with mental health disorders).

If you're in a psychiatric hospital (instead of a general hospital), Part A only pays for up to 190 days of inpatient psychiatric hospital services during your lifetime.
 

 How is my inpatient mental health stay covered by Part A?  

A full breakdown of costs for each benefit period of an inpatient mental health stay include:

• Days 1–60: $0 after you meet your Part A deductible $1,736 for 2026. 
• Days 61–90: $434 each day for 2026. 
• Days 91 and beyond: $868 each day for each lifetime reserve day (up to a maximum 60 reserve days over your lifetime) for 2026. 

After you use all of your lifetime reserve days you will pay all costs out-of-pocket. 
 

What’s covered for hospice care by Part A:

Sometimes called “end of life care,” hospice is typically for when the diagnosis is terminal or when a cure is not expected. It’s usually given where the patient lives, either at home or a nursing home or other assisted nursing facility.   

Hospice care focuses on improved quality of life through pain relief and symptom control. They also treat mental and emotional health needs. 

Part A will generally cover most of hospice care costs if you get care from an approved provider and choose hospice care instead of treatment to cure your illness. A copay of up to $5 may be charged for each outpatient prescription drug prescribed for pain relief and symptom control. For short-term inpatient respite care, you may have to pay for 5% of the Medicare-approved amount at a Medicare-approved facility.