What Is Medicare Part A?

Medicare Part A is the portion of Medicare that helps cover inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care following a qualifying hospital stay, hospice care, and certain home health services. Part A is one of the two parts that make up Original Medicare and provides hospital insurance for eligible Medicare beneficiaries.

What is Medicare Part A?

Medicare Part A is federal hospital insurance provided through Medicare.

While Medicare Part B primarily covers outpatient medical care, Part A helps pay for healthcare services received after admission to a hospital or other qualifying inpatient facility.

Together, Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B make up Original Medicare.

Many beneficiaries also enroll in Medicare Part D for prescription drug coverage and may purchase a Medigap policy or choose a Medicare Advantage plan for additional protection.

What does Medicare Part A cover?

Medicare Part A generally helps cover medically necessary inpatient healthcare services, including:

• Inpatient hospital stays
• Semi-private hospital rooms
• Meals provided during an inpatient stay
• Nursing care received during hospitalization
• Medications administered during an inpatient stay
• Skilled nursing facility care following a qualifying hospital stay
• Hospice care for eligible beneficiaries
• Certain home health services when Medicare requirements are met

Coverage depends on Medicare eligibility rules, medical necessity, and other federal requirements.

What doesn't Medicare Part A cover?

Although Part A provides important hospital coverage, it does not pay for every healthcare expense.

Generally, Part A does not cover:

• Routine physician office visits
• Most outpatient healthcare services
• Most outpatient prescription drugs
• Long-term custodial nursing home care
• Routine dental care
• Routine vision care
• Hearing aids
• Personal custodial care that is not medically necessary

Many of these services may instead be covered by Medicare Part B, Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage, or separate insurance coverage.

Who is eligible for Medicare Part A?

Most people qualify for Medicare Part A if they:

• Are age 65 or older.
• Are younger than 65 and have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for the required waiting period.
• Have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and meet Medicare eligibility requirements.
• Have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Eligibility is determined under federal law.

Does Medicare Part A have a monthly premium?

Many beneficiaries receive premium-free Part A because they—or their spouse—paid Medicare payroll taxes while working for the required number of quarters.

People who do not qualify for premium-free Part A may be able to purchase Part A coverage by paying a monthly premium if they meet Medicare eligibility requirements.

Other costs may still apply, including deductibles and coinsurance for certain covered services.

Medicare Part A vs. Medicare Part B

Although both are part of Original Medicare, they cover different types of healthcare.

Medicare Part A

Generally covers:

• Inpatient hospital care
• Skilled nursing facility care after a qualifying hospital stay
• Hospice care
• Certain home health services

Medicare Part B

Generally covers:

• Doctor visits
• Outpatient care
• Preventive services
• Diagnostic testing
• Durable medical equipment
• Mental health services
• Many other outpatient medical services

Together, Parts A and B provide comprehensive Medicare hospital and medical coverage.

Medicare Part A and skilled nursing facility care

Many people mistakenly believe Medicare covers long-term nursing home care.

In reality, Medicare Part A covers skilled nursing facility care only under specific conditions, including:

• A qualifying inpatient hospital stay.
• A physician's determination that skilled care is medically necessary.
• Admission to a Medicare-certified skilled nursing facility.
• Other Medicare eligibility requirements.

Part A generally does not cover long-term custodial nursing home care when skilled medical care is no longer needed.

Medicare Part A and hospice care

Part A also includes hospice benefits for beneficiaries who meet Medicare's eligibility requirements.

Hospice focuses on comfort, symptom management, and quality of life for people with terminal illnesses.

Hospice services may include:

• Physician services
• Nursing care
• Medical equipment
• Medications related to symptom management
• Counseling and support services

Coverage follows Medicare's hospice eligibility rules.

Why this matters

Hospital stays and skilled medical care can be among the most expensive healthcare services people receive. Medicare Part A helps protect eligible beneficiaries from many of these costs while providing access to inpatient care, hospice services, and qualifying skilled nursing care.

Understanding exactly what Part A covers—and what it does not—can help beneficiaries avoid unexpected healthcare expenses and better understand when additional Medicare coverage may be appropriate.