Medicare Part A is your “Hospital Insurance” and covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health services. For 2026, several cost-sharing amounts have increased to reflect rising healthcare costs.

Premium-Free Part A

Most people do not pay a monthly premium for Part A.

  • The 40-Quarter Rule: If you (or your spouse) worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters), you qualify for premium-free Part A.
  • Buying Part A: If you have fewer than 30 quarters of coverage, the 2026 premium is $565 per month. If you have between 30 and 39 quarters, the reduced premium is $311 per month.

The 2026 Hospital Deductible

Medicare Part A uses “benefit periods” rather than a simple annual calendar. A benefit period begins the day you are admitted to a hospital and ends when you have been out for 60 consecutive days.

  • Deductible: For each benefit period in 2026, you must pay a $1,736 deductible before Medicare begins to pay.
  • Coverage: This deductible covers your first 60 days of inpatient hospital care.

Hospital Coinsurance Costs

If your hospital stay extends beyond 60 days within a single benefit period, you are responsible for daily coinsurance payments:

  • Days 1–60: $0 after you pay the $1,736 deductible.
  • Days 61–90: $434 per day.
  • Days 91–150: $868 per day (using your 60 “lifetime reserve days”).
  • After Day 150: You are responsible for all costs.

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Costs

Medicare Part A also covers stays in a skilled nursing facility following a qualifying hospital stay of at least three days.

  • Days 1–20: $0 per day.
  • Days 21–100: $217 per day in 2026.
  • After Day 100: You are responsible for all costs.

Part A Costs at a Glance (2026)

Service TypeYour 2026 Cost
Standard Monthly Premium$0 (for most)
Inpatient Hospital Deductible$1,736 per benefit period
Hospital Daily Coinsurance (Days 61-90)$434 per day
SNF Daily Coinsurance (Days 21-100)$217 per day

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Fact Sheet, “2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles” (Released November 2025).