Medicare Part A

Part A of Medicare is your hospital insurance. This helps you cover hospital expenses for things such as the cost of  room for stays, hospice, home health care and even skilled nursing facility stays.

Part A is also free for most people as long as they have worked at least 10 years in the U.S. or are married to someone who is at least 62 and has worked those quarters.

Think of Part A as your room and board in the hospital. This part of Medicare provides you a semi-private room for your hospital stay and with meals and medical services while you are in the hospital.

There are many things that happen in a hospital that fall under another part of Medicare – Part B, so it’s important that you understand the rolls these Plans play together.  

Let us help you navigate the maze of Medicare.

How much does Part A cost?

Premium-free Part A

You usually don’t pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) coverage if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for a certain amount of time while working. This is sometimes called “premium-free Part A.”

Most people get premium-free Part A.

You can get premium-free Part A at 65 if:

• You already get retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.
• You’re eligible to get Social Security or Railroad benefits but haven’t filed for them yet.
• You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.

If you’re under 65, you can get premium-free Part A if:

• You got Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for 24 months.
• You have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and meet certain requirements.