In general, Part A covers:
- Hospital care (www.medicare.gov)
- Skilled nursing facility care
- Hospice care (www.medicare.gov)
- Home health services (www.medicare.gov)
Find out if Medicare covers your item, service or supply (www.medicare.gov).
How much is covered?
| Services | Benefit | in 2024: Medicare pays | You pay in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
Hospitalization | First 60 days | All but $1,632 | $1,632 |
| 61st to 90th day | All but $408/day | $408/day |
91st to 150th day (60 reserve days may be used only once | All but $816/day | $816/day | |
| Beyond 150 days | Nothing | All costs |
Skilled nursing facility care | First 20 days | 100% of approved amount | Nothing |
| Days 80 days | All but $204/day | Up to $204/day |
| Beyond 100 days | Nothing | All costs |
Home health care | Unlimited, as long as you meet Medicare requirements for home health care benefits | 100% of approved amount 80% of approved amount for durable medical equipment | Nothing for services 20% of approved amount for durable medical equipment |
Hospice care | For as long as doctor certifies need | All but limited costs for outpatient drugs and inpatient respite care | Limited cost sharing for outpatient drugs and inpatient respite care |
Blood* | Unlimited during a benefit period if medically necessary | All but first three pints per calendar year
| For first three pints |
1 - Neither Medicare or Medigap insurance pay for most nursing home care (See Medicare & You 2024, pages 26, 56.)
2 - A benefit period starts the first day you receive a Medicare-covered service in a qualified hospital. It ends when you’ve been out of a hospital (or other facility that provides skilled nursing or rehab services) for 60 days in a row. It also ends if you stay in a facility (other than a hospital) that provides skilled nursing or rehab services, but do not receive any skilled care there for 60 days in a row. If you enter a hospital again after 60 days, a new benefit period starts. This also applies to mental health in-patient stays. (See Medicare & You 2024, pages 37-29 and 119..)
* If the hospital gets blood from a blood bank at no charge, you won’t pay for replacing it. If the hospital buys blood for you, you must either pay the hospital costs for the first three units of blood you get in a calendar year or have the blood donated by you or someone else. (See Medicare & You 2024, page 26.)
Premium for Part A: Most people don't pay a premium, because they (or their spouse) worked for over 40 quarters. If you have fewer than 30 quarters, you pay $505/month. For 30-39 quarters, you pay $278 month.