What Is Medicare Part A?
Medicare Part A is the hospital insurance portion of Original Medicare. It is one of the two parts of Original Medicare, alongside Medicare Part B, which covers outpatient and medical services. Together, Parts A and B make up what is commonly called "Original Medicare" or "Traditional Medicare."
Part A is administered by the federal government through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It is funded primarily through payroll taxes paid by workers and employers throughout a person's working life. This is why most people who have worked at least 10 years qualify for premium-free Part A when they turn 65.
Part A does not cover everything related to hospital care. It specifically covers inpatient services, meaning services you receive after a formal hospital admission. Outpatient services, including emergency room visits that do not result in an inpatient admission, are covered under Part B.
What Medicare Part A Covers
Inpatient hospital stays
Semi-private room, meals, general nursing, and hospital services during a medically necessary admission.
Skilled nursing facility (SNF) care
Up to 100 days per benefit period following a qualifying 3-day inpatient hospital stay. Days 1-20 are fully covered; days 21-100 require a daily copay.
Home health care
Part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy ordered by a physician.
Hospice care
Comfort care for people with a terminal illness who choose to stop curative treatment. Covers pain relief, symptom management, and support services.
Inpatient mental health care
Psychiatric care received in a hospital setting, subject to the same cost-sharing rules as other inpatient stays.
Blood (inpatient)
Part A covers blood received during an inpatient stay after the first 3 pints.
What Part A Does Not Cover
Long-term custodial care (help with daily activities like bathing or dressing)
Private-duty nursing
Private hospital room (unless medically necessary)
Personal comfort items (TV, phone, toiletries)
Outpatient services (covered by Part B)
Prescription drugs taken at home (covered by Part D)
Dental, vision, and hearing care
Custodial care in a nursing home
Long-term custodial care is one of the most significant gaps in Medicare coverage. If you need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, or eating on a long-term basis, Medicare will not pay for it. This is a key reason many people consider long-term care insurance or Medicaid planning. See our Does Medicare Cover Long-Term Care? page for a full breakdown.
Medicare Part A Costs in 2026
| Cost Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Part A Premium | $0 for most people (40+ quarters worked) |
| Inpatient Deductible | $1,736 per benefit period |
| Hospital Coinsurance (Days 1-60) | $0 |
| Hospital Coinsurance (Days 61-90) | $422/day |
| Lifetime Reserve Days (Days 91+) | $844/day |
| SNF Coinsurance (Days 21-100) | $212/day |
Source: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2026. For the full cost reference including Part B, see our Medicare Costs at a Glance page.
Eligibility and Enrollment
You are eligible for Medicare Part A at age 65 if you are a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident who has lived in the United States for at least 5 consecutive years. You may also qualify under age 65 if you have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for 24 months, or if you have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).
Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is a 7-month window: 3 months before your 65th birthday month, your birthday month itself, and 3 months after. Enrolling in the first 3 months of your IEP ensures coverage begins on the first day of your birthday month.
If you are already receiving Social Security benefits when you turn 65, you are enrolled in Part A automatically. If not, you must actively sign up through the Social Security Administration online, by phone, or in person.
Unlike Part B, there is no late enrollment penalty for Part A if you qualify for premium-free coverage. However, if you must pay a premium for Part A and delay enrollment without a qualifying reason, a 10% penalty applies for twice the number of years you delayed. For a full enrollment timeline, see our Medicare Enrollment Timeline.
Part A with Medicare Advantage
If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), you still have Part A. Medicare Advantage plans are required to cover everything Original Medicare covers, including all Part A hospital benefits. The difference is that your care is managed through the Advantage plan's network and rules rather than directly through Medicare.
Medicare Advantage plans may have different cost-sharing structures for inpatient hospital stays, such as a per-day copay instead of the Part A deductible. Some plans have lower out-of-pocket costs for short hospital stays; others may cost more for extended stays. Always review your plan's Summary of Benefits before enrolling.
For a side-by-side comparison of how Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage handle hospital coverage and other benefits, see our Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Medicare Part A in Tampa and Hillsborough County, FL
Most Tampa and Hillsborough County residents qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A if they or their spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. If you are approaching 65 and have worked in the United States for most of your career, there is a strong chance your Part A coverage will cost you nothing in monthly premiums.
Tampa Bay is home to several major hospital systems that accept Medicare, including Tampa General Hospital, AdventHealth Tampa, St. Joseph's Hospital, and HCA Florida Brandon Hospital. Understanding your Part A benefits before a hospital stay helps you know exactly what you will owe and what the plan covers.
One area where Tampa residents frequently need guidance is the distinction between inpatient admission and observation status. A hospital can keep you overnight for days while classifying your stay as "observation" rather than inpatient: which means Part A does not apply and you may owe significantly more out of pocket. A licensed Medicare advisor can help you understand your rights and what questions to ask your hospital.
Serving Tampa Bay and Hillsborough County
Greg Wohl and the Medicare Information Pro team serve beneficiaries throughout Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Valrico, Apollo Beach, Sun City Center, Plant City, and surrounding Hillsborough County communities. Consultations are free and available by phone or in person.
Call 813-699-5559Have Questions About Your Part A Coverage?
A licensed Medicare specialist can review your specific situation at no cost to you.