Medicare Part A is hospital insurance. It covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care. Most people do not pay a premium for Part A if they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters).
Key Points
- Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital care
- Part A covers skilled nursing facility care after a qualifying hospital stay
- Part A covers hospice care for terminally ill patients
- Most people pay $0 premium for Part A
- Part A has a deductible: $1,676 per benefit period (2026)