Medicare Part A
Part A Original Medicare
Eligibility and Cost
You are eligible for Medicare Part A by working and paying taxes for at least 10 years. There is no additional cost for part A if you have worked the minimum of 10 years. For individuals who do not meet this requirement they will have an additional premium cost if you buy Part A, you’ll pay up to $505 each month. If you paid Medicare taxes for less than 30 quarters, the standard Part A premium is $505. If you paid Medicare taxes for 30-39 quarters, the standard Part A premium is $278. If you were married and your spouse met the requirements you can take Part A under them. Your receive Part A automatically when you turn 65 years old.
When you are admitted to the hospital Medicare Part A is the benefit used to pay some of the costs.
- Upon admittance* there is a deductible that is due, for 2024 is $1632*. This is good for a 60 benefit period. Under Medicare Part A the window of time for the Medicare Part A benefit period deductible is 60 days, if you are admitted, then discharged, and readmitted to the hospital in that same 60 days, then the one deductible applies for Medicare Part A, however if you are admitted back into the hospital after the original 60 days, then a new Medicare Part A deductible applies.
- If you are in a continuous hospital stay longer than 60 days, beginning day 61 thru day 90 there is a daily co-pay up to $408 per day.
- If you are longer than 90 days, beginning day 91 thru day 150, there is a up to $816 daily co-pay in the last 60 days, which Medicare calls “lifetime reserve” days Medicare will run out and you would be responsible for all the costs after the 150 days of continuous hospitalization.
If you need rehabilitation or intermittent nursing care skilled nursing, in a skilled nursing facility (NSF), Medicare pays for the first 20 days, after that from days 21 thru 100 there is a $204 daily co-pay. You have 100 days per year of NSF coverage.
It is important to note, THERE IS NO MAXIMUM OUT OF POCKET (MOOP) for Part A. If you maxed out the benefit it would cost over $40,000.
*If you are in the hospital under observation is not the same as admitted, observation falls under Part B.
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