Medicare Part A: Hospital Insurance
Medicare Part A is free of charge for most Americans. Medicare Part A is hospital insurance. It covers inpatient care at a hospital, skilled nursing facility (SNF), or hospice. Part A also covers services like lab tests, surgery, doctor visits, and home health care.
Medicare Part A is free for most people, however, it may come at a cost if you haven’t worked and paid Medicare taxes in the United States for at least 10 years (40 quarters) in your lifetime. For those who fall into this category and are required to pay a premium for Medicare Part A, the premium can reach as high as $400 per month.
What is the Medicare Part A Deductible?
Even though Medicare Part A is typically free, it still has a deductible and some limitations. The deductible for Medicare Part A is $1288 per year, so that means you will pay $1288 before Medicare Part A starts paying for your hospital costs. Additionally, Medicare Part A will only pay for 80% of most approved expenses. As far as inpatient stays are concerned, it will only cover the first 60 days as an inpatient at a hospital or mental health facility. Medicare Part A only covers the first 20 days of a skilled nursing facility.
Most people choose a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan to cover the remaining 20% of hospital expenses.
* Montana Life Group is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program.
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