Medicare Part A in Florida — Hospital Insurance
Inpatient hospital, skilled nursing, and hospice coverage — here's exactly what Part A covers, what it costs in 2026, and how to enroll.
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What Is Medicare Part A?
Medicare Part A, also known as Hospital Insurance, helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care.
Key Points
- Medicare Part A provides your inpatient hospital coverage as well as skilled nursing facility and hospice coverage.
- Medicare Part A costs most people $0/month if they worked at least 10 years in the U.S. and paid payroll taxes.
- Medicare Part A does cover a majority of your Part A costs, but you are responsible for the deductible and coinsurance.
Want help understanding how Part A fits with your overall Medicare coverage?
What Does Medicare Part A Cover?
Part A covers four main categories of care.
Inpatient Hospital Care
Semi-private room, meals, general nursing, drugs as part of your inpatient treatment, and other hospital services and supplies. This includes care in acute care hospitals, critical access hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and long-term care hospitals — plus inpatient care as part of a qualifying clinical research study and inpatient mental health care in a psychiatric hospital (up to 190 days in a lifetime).
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Care
Semi-private room, meals, skilled nursing and rehabilitative services, and other medically necessary services and supplies, following a qualifying hospital stay.
Hospice Care
For people with a terminal illness — drugs for symptom control and pain relief, medical and support services from a Medicare-approved hospice, grief counseling, and other services.
Home Health Care
Part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, continued occupational services, and more.
What Does Medicare Part A Cost in 2026?
Part A is premium-free for most people — your monthly premium, if any, depends entirely on your work history.
| Work History | 2026 Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Paid Medicare taxes 10+ years (40 quarters) | $0 |
| Paid Medicare taxes 30–39 quarters | $311/month |
| Fewer than 30 quarters | $565/month |
✓ Good to know: Approximately 99% of Medicare beneficiaries pay $0 for Part A because they or a spouse worked at least 40 quarters (10 years) in Medicare-covered employment.
2026 Deductible & Coinsurance (Cost-Sharing)
Even with $0 premium, Part A is not entirely free to use. Here’s exactly what you’re responsible for if you’re hospitalized or need skilled nursing care.
Inpatient Hospital Stay
| Deductible (per benefit period) | $1,736 |
| Days 1–60 | $0 coinsurance per day |
| Days 61–90 | $434 coinsurance per day |
| Days 91+ (lifetime reserve days) | $868/day (up to 60 days over your lifetime) |
| Beyond lifetime reserve days | All costs |
Skilled Nursing Facility Stay
| Days 1–20 | $0 coinsurance |
| Days 21–100 | $217 coinsurance per day |
| Days 101+ | All costs |
Hospice Care
Usually no cost — you may pay up to a $5 copay per prescription for pain relief and symptom control, plus 5% of the Medicare-approved amount for inpatient respite care.
Home Health Care
$0 for covered home health services. 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for durable medical equipment (DME).
⚠ This is exactly the gap Medigap exists to fill. A Medicare Supplement plan can cover most or all of these deductibles and coinsurance amounts, eliminating the unpredictability of these out-of-pocket costs.
How Do I Enroll in Medicare Part A?
Most people are automatically enrolled in Part A. Some need to sign up manually.
Automatic Enrollment
If you’re already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you’re automatically enrolled in Part A starting the month you turn 65.
Manual Enrollment
If you’re not yet receiving Social Security benefits, you’ll need to actively sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period — the 7-month window around your 65th birthday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medicare Part A really free?
The monthly premium is $0 for most people who worked at least 10 years and paid Medicare taxes. However, you’re still responsible for the deductible and coinsurance if you’re actually hospitalized or need skilled nursing care.
What is a “benefit period”?
A benefit period starts the day you’re admitted as an inpatient and ends once you’ve been out of the hospital or skilled nursing facility for 60 consecutive days. You could pay the Part A deductible more than once in a year if you have separate hospital stays.
Do I need Medigap if I have Part A and Part B?
It’s not required, but Original Medicare alone has no annual out-of-pocket maximum. A Medicare Supplement plan can cover most of the deductibles and coinsurance shown above, protecting you from unpredictable costs.
What happens if I use all my lifetime reserve days?
You have 60 lifetime reserve days total, which do not renew once used. After they’re exhausted, you’re responsible for all costs beyond day 90 of a hospital stay in that benefit period.
Does skilled nursing facility care have its own deductible?
No separate deductible applies if the SNF stay follows a qualifying hospital stay — but coinsurance begins on day 21.
Official Medicare Resources
We encourage you to review these official government resources as part of your Medicare decision.
⚠ Medicare Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not a complete description of benefits. Costs are subject to change annually. Contact a licensed Medicare agent for plan details. NISONA is an independent insurance agency and is not affiliated with Medicare or the Social Security Administration.
NISONA — Get Someone on Your Side
Understanding Part A is just the first step. Our friendly, knowledgeable advisors can help you understand how it fits with Part B, Medicare Supplement, and Part D — so you have a complete picture before you decide.
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