What is Medicare Part A?

Medicare Part A is a health insurance program run by the federal government, available to people age 65 or over, as well as to certain other individuals who have disabilities or permanent kidney failure. Part A covers services such as inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, and home health care. Medicare Part A is sometimes referred to as “Original Medicare” or “Hospital Insurance,” and it is a key part of the Medicare program.

Who Is Eligible for Medicare Part A?

Most people age 65 or over are eligible for Medicare Part A. If you are under 65, you can qualify for Medicare Part A if you have certain disabilities, or if you have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

Many people qualify for Medicare Part A at no cost, as long as they are 65 or over, or have one of the qualifying disabilities. If you are under 65, you may have to pay a premium for Part A.

What Does Medicare Part A Cover?

Medicare Part A covers services related to inpatient care. This can include:

• Inpatient hospice care
• Inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility
• Inpatient care in a hospital
• Inpatient rehabilitation
• Home health care

Part A also covers certain durable medical equipment and home health care services.

How Do You Sign Up for Medicare Part A?

You can sign up for Medicare Part A during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). This is typically 7 months, starting 3 months before your 65th birthday and ending 3 months after. If you’re under age 65, you may have a slightly different IEP.

You can also sign up for Part A during the General Enrollment Period (GEP), which runs from January 1 to March 31 each year.

You can apply for Medicare Part A online at Medicare.gov, over the phone, or by mail.

In Summary

Medicare Part A is a health insurance program run by the federal government, available to people age 65 or over, as well as to certain other individuals who have disabilities or permanent kidney failure. Part A covers services such as inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, and home health care. You can usually sign up for Part A during your Initial Enrollment Period, or during the General Enrollment Period in January-March.