Definition. Medicare Part A is hospital insurance. It covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care after a qualifying hospital stay, hospice and some home health care. Most people pay no Part A premium because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters).
What it means
2026 Part A costs with Original Medicare:
- Hospital deductible: $1,736 per benefit period, covering days 1 to 60.
- Days 61 to 90: $434 a day. After that, $868 a day for each of your 60 lifetime reserve days.
- Skilled nursing facility: nothing for days 1 to 20 and $217 a day for days 21 to 100, after a qualifying inpatient stay of at least three days.
- Premium: none for most people; $311 or $565 a month for people who buy Part A.
Home health care and hospice are covered when you meet Medicare's conditions. Part A doesn't cover long-term custodial care.
In Oregon
If you're working past 65 and contributing to a Health Savings Account, timing Part A matters. Once Part A starts you can't contribute to an HSA, and if you sign up after 65, Part A is backdated up to six months (but not before the month you turned 65). Read the HSA and Medicare timing guide. People with Medicare and limited income may get help paying a Part A premium through Oregon's Medicare Savings Programs; see Medicare Savings Programs in Oregon.
Sources
- CMS — 2026 Medicare Parts A & B premiums and deductibles
- Medicare.gov — Medicare costs
- Social Security — Sign up for Medicare
Frequently asked questions
Does Part A cover all my hospital costs?
No. You pay the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period in 2026), plus daily coinsurance after day 60. Doctor services while you're in the hospital are billed under Part B.
Do I have to sign up for Part A?
If you already get Social Security retirement or disability benefits, you're enrolled automatically. Otherwise, sign up with Social Security (ssa.gov or 1-800-772-1213), usually during your Initial Enrollment Period around your 65th birthday.
What if I didn't work long enough for premium-free Part A?
You can buy Part A. In 2026 the premium is $311 a month with 30 to 39 quarters of work and $565 a month with fewer than 30.
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