Most people do not pay a premium for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance).  This is also known as “premium-free" Part A.  If you or your spouse paid Medicare payroll taxes for less than 7.5 years, you will have a monthly cost of $499 per month.  If you paid Medicare payroll taxes for 7.5 and 10 years, the standard premium is $274 per month.

Services

What Medicare Pays

What you Pay

Hospitalization

• First 60 Days

All But $1556

$1556

• Days 61-90

All but $389 a Day

$389 a Day

• Days 91 and After (60 Reserve Days)

All but $778 a Day

$778 a Day

• After Reserve (Additional 365 Days)

$0

All Costs

• Beyond lifetime reserve days

$0

All Costs

Skilled Nursing Facility Care

• Days 1-20

All Approved Amounts

$0

• Days 21-100

All but $194.50 a Day

$194.50 a Day

• Days 101 and beyond

$0

All Costs

Blood

• First Three Pints

$0

All Costs

• Additional Amounts

100%

$0

Hospice Care

• You must meet Medicare’s requirements, including a doctor’s certification of terminal illness

All but very limited copayment/coinsurance for outpatient drugs and inpatient respite care

$0 for hospice care, up to $5 for each prescription, and 5% of the Medicare-approved amount for respite care