Lesson 1: Medicare Part A

Medicare Part A covers hospital care for those who are 65 and older. In general, Part A covers:

• Inpatient hospital care
• Short-term and non-custodial nursing care
• Hospice care
• Home health care

Most people do not pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part A, but there are deductible and coinsurance expenses associated with Part A.

• If you paid Medicare taxes for 40 quarters, you pay no premium
• If you paid Medicare taxes for 30-39 quarters, the standard Part A premium is $285
• If you paid Medicare taxes for less than 30 quarters, the standard Part A premium is $518

If you are hospitalized, you are required to pay:

• $1,676 deductible for each benefit period (every 60 days)
• Days 1-60: $0 coinsurance for each benefit period
• Days 61-90: $419 coinsurance per day of each benefit period
• Days 91-150: $838 copayment each day while using your 60 “lifetime reserve days”
• After day 150: you pay all costs