Medicare has numerous types of plans with different coverages and services. A Medicare Part A plan covers inpatient health care in hospitals.
Medicare Part A generally covers the following services:
- Inpatient care in hospitals
- Access to critical access hospital (CAH) coverage
- Access to skilled nursing facilities
- Hospice care
- Home health care
Who is Eligible for Medicare Part A?
Generally, to be eligible for Part A, the individual must meet one of the following requirements:
- The individual is age 65 or older and a citizen or resident of the United States.
- The individual receives disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board for at least 25 months.
- The individual receives disability benefits because of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
- The individual has end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
How Much Does Medicare Part A Cost?
For most people, enrollment in a Medicare Part A Plan costs $0 if the individual worked and paid Medicare and Social Security taxes on their wages for at least 10 years before age 65. If the individual worked less than 10 years, the individual will have to pay a monthly Part A premium to obtain coverage.
Other Medicare Plans
For more information on Medicare plans, see the following resources:
- Medicare Part A
- Medicare Part B
- Medicare Part C
- Medicare Part D
Additional Information
For more information on Part A plans, Medicare recipients can visit the Medicare.gov website.