Medicare Part A costs will vary person-to-person, but for most people, Medicare Part A is premium-free. It still has a deductible, which you pay per benefit period, and it also requires copays for covered services in the hospital, a skilled nursing facility or for hospice.
The costs for Medicare Part A can change each year. Below are the Part A costs as of January 1, 2026, and if you want to also learn more about Part B costs for 2026, read this article.
Will you pay the Medicare Part A premium?
Most people don’t pay the Medicare Part A premium. You do not pay for Part A if you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. If you or your spouse did not, then you will have a Part A premium to pay each month. As of 2026, the Part A premium can cost up to $565 per month.
Medicare Part A 2026 deductible and copays
Medicare Part A has a deductible that is charged per benefit period. For 2026, this deductible amount is $1,736.
- A benefit period starts on the day when you enter a hospital or skilled nursing facility for care and ends when you have been out for 60 consecutive days. During this time, you may be in the hospital more than once.
- There is no limit to how many benefit periods you can have. Medicare will cover all of them.
- Each benefit period charges the $1,736 Part A deductible.
Medicare Part A also has copays for when you’re in the hospital, in a skilled nursing facility or in hospice. The copays and rules work differently for each.
Hospital copays for Medicare Part A
Hospital copays are determined by the number of days you’re in the hospital, and when you exceed 90 days, you begin to use your lifetime reserve days. These are a set number of covered hospital days you can use if you’re in the hospital for more than 90 days in a single benefit period. You have 60 lifetime reserve days, and once you use them, they’re gone.
| Number of Days in Hospital | Part A Copay |
|---|---|
Days 1-60 |
$0 |
Days 61-90 |
$434 per day |
Days 91 and beyond |
$868 per day up to 60 lifetime reserve days |
Medicare Part A copays for a skilled nursing facility
For a skilled nursing facility, Medicare Part A charges copays per benefit period – similar to the Part A deductible—and by the number of days you spend in the facility receiving care. Below is a breakdown of the 2026 copay amounts for skilled nursing facility care.
| Number of days in skilled nursing facility | Part A copay |
|---|---|
Days 1-20 |
$0 |
Days 21-100 |
$217.00 per day |
Days 101 and beyond |
You pay all costs |
Hospice copays for Medicare Part A
For hospice care, Part A copays exist for medications for pain and symptom management, durable medical equipment used in the home and for respite care. The costs for each for 2026 are below:
| Hospice service or item | Part A copay |
|---|---|
Medications for pain and symptom management |
Up to $5 per prescription |
Durable medical equipment used at home |
20% of the cost |
Respite care |
5% of the Medicare-approved amount |
In conclusion, your Medicare Part A total costs will vary based on your work and tax history and your overall health care needs throughout the year.
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