Part A — Hospital Insurance
Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility stays, hospice, and home health services. Most people are automatically enrolled when they turn 65 and pay no premium.
What Part A Covers
Part A is your hospital insurance. Here is what it pays for.
Inpatient Hospital Care
Semi-private room, meals, general nursing, drugs as part of inpatient treatment, and other hospital services and supplies.
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)
Up to 100 days of care per benefit period following a qualifying 3-day inpatient hospital stay. Days 1–20 are fully covered; days 21–100 require a daily coinsurance.
Hospice Care
Covered if your doctor certifies you are terminally ill with a life expectancy of 6 months or less. Focuses on comfort and quality of life.
Home Health Services
Medically necessary part-time skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology services, and occupational therapy in your home.
Inpatient Mental Health Care
Covers inpatient stays in a psychiatric facility. Lifetime limit of 190 days applies for psychiatric hospital stays.
Part A Costs (2026)
Most people pay $0 in premiums. Your main costs come from deductibles and coinsurance during hospital stays.
| Cost Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly premium | $0 for most people* |
| Inpatient deductible (per benefit period) | $1,736 |
| Hospital days 1–60 | $0 coinsurance |
| Hospital days 61–90 | $434/day |
| Hospital days 91+ | $868/day |
| SNF days 1–20 | $0 |
| SNF days 21–100 | $217/day |
* People who paid Medicare taxes for fewer than 10 years may pay a monthly premium up to $505/month (2025). Costs subject to annual adjustment.
When to Enroll
Automatic Enrollment
If you are already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits when you turn 65, you are automatically enrolled in Part A (and Part B) — no action needed.
Manual Enrollment
If you are not yet receiving Social Security benefits, you must sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) — a 7-month window around your 65th birthday.
Sign Up at SSA.govLate Enrollment Penalty
If you have to pay a Part A premium and don't enroll when first eligible, your monthly premium may go up 10%. You will pay this penalty for twice the number of years you delayed enrollment.
Explore Other Medicare Parts
Get Your Free Medicare Quote
A licensed NJ Medicare advisor will review your Part A and full Medicare options — always free, no obligation.