Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)

Medicare Part A helps cover inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and limited home health care.
May River Medicare Insurance guides you through your Part A benefits, eligibility, and enrollment—at no cost, no pressure.

What Does Part A Cover?

Inpatient hospital care (semi-private room, meals, general nursing, drugs as part of inpatient treatment)
Skilled nursing facility care (following a qualifying hospital stay)
Home health care (limited, doctor-ordered)
Hospice care (for those with terminal illness)
Inpatient rehabilitation facilities

Note: Part A does **not** cover doctors’ services in the hospital (covered under Part B).

How Much Does Part A Cost?

Premium: Most people pay $0 per month if they (or a spouse) worked 10+ years and paid Medicare taxes.
Deductibles: In 2024, the inpatient hospital deductible is $1,632 per benefit period.
Copayments: For extended hospital or skilled nursing stays, copays may apply after certain days.

We help you understand your real costs and eligibility for $0 premium.

How Do You Enroll in Part A?

If you already receive Social Security, you’re usually enrolled in Part A automatically at age 65.
If not, you can enroll online at Social Security or get free help from our team.
Part A coverage can also start earlier if you qualify due to disability.

We’ll walk you through every step to avoid penalties or gaps in coverage.

Need help with Medicare Part A enrollment or understanding your benefits?
Call (843) 227-6725 or book a free Part A review online.

Who Is Eligible for Medicare Part A?

Most people age 65 or older (or younger with qualifying disability)
U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents (5+ continuous years)
Those with at least 10 years (40 quarters) of work history in the U.S.
People under 65 may qualify due to certain disabilities or ESRD (End-Stage Renal Disease)

Not sure if you qualify? Our advisors can check your eligibility and cost for free.

How May River Medicare Helps

Confirming your Part A eligibility and premium
Step-by-step enrollment support—online, by phone, or in person
Answers to all questions about hospital/rehab/skilled nursing coverage
Annual review to make sure your coverage still fits your needs

Book a free Part A review and get personal guidance with no obligation.

FAQs: Medicare Part A

Is Medicare Part A free?
For most people, yes. You’ll pay $0 per month if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for 10+ years.

Does Part A cover doctor visits?
No. Doctor and outpatient care is covered under Medicare Part B.

How do I avoid a late enrollment penalty?
Sign up when you’re first eligible (at 65, unless you have creditable employer coverage). We’ll help you avoid mistakes.

How do I use my Part A benefits?
Show your Medicare card at the hospital or facility. We’ll answer questions about billing and coverage any time.

Can I get extra help with hospital costs?
Yes. Many people add Medicare Supplement (Medigap) or Advantage plans to limit their out-of-pocket costs. We’ll help you compare options.

Still have questions? Call our local Medicare experts for free guidance every step of the way.
Call (843) 227-6725 or book a free Part A consultation now.

Medicare Plan A

Plan A is a type of Medigap plan that helps fill in the gaps in Medicare.
Plan A covers your 20% outpatient coinsurance.
Supplement Plan A is available in most states for those enrolled in Medicare under 65.

Medigap Plan A Benefits

Medicare Supplement Plan A is also referred to as Medigap Plan A. This plan is sometimes overlooked because it has fewer benefits than other Medigap insurance plans.

What does Medicare Plan A cover though?

It still covers the most important benefit, which is the 20% of outpatient medical care that Medicare doesn’t cover.

Medicare Plan A
is the most basic Medicare Supplement.

Medigap Plan A Benefits

Medicare Supplement Plan A is also referred to as Medigap Plan A. This plan is sometimes overlooked because it has fewer benefits than other Medigap insurance plans.

What does Medicare Plan A cover though? It still covers the most important benefit, which is the 20% of outpatient medical care that Medicare doesn’t cover.

The chart below shows basic information about the different benefits Medigap policies cover.

✔ = the plan covers 100% of this benefit
X = the plan doesn’t cover this benefit
% = the plan covers that percentage of this benefit and you’re responsible for the rest
N/A = not applicable

The Medigap policy will only pay your coinsurance after you’ve paid the deductible (unless the Medigap policy also covers your deductible).

Medicare Plan A for Disabled Under 65

Medigap Plan A is also the insurance policy that is made available to people under the age of 65 in most states. So if you qualify for Medicare early due to a disability, this policy is available for purchase during your Open Enrollment Period without underwriting.

Be aware, though, that the cost of this plan for people UNDER age 65, can be as much as 3 times what a 65-year-old will pay. This happens because people who qualify for Medicare due to a disability often have higher medical costs than the average 65 or older person. The loss ratios are higher and those costs get passed on to you in the form of rate increases.

For this reason, people on Medicare disability may want to look into Medicare Advantage plans. Why? Because on Medicare Advantage plans the rate is the same for anyone enrolled, regardless of age, gender, etc. Later when you turn 65, you can use the turning 65 Open Enrollment Period to change to a Supplement if you prefer that.

For people over age 65, Medigap Plan A will be priced just as any other Supplement, but not many people over age 65 do choose it. Generally, they choose more comprehensive plans like Plan F and Plan G that provide fuller coverage.

Don’t Confuse Medicare Plan A with Part A

People often feel confused about whether Plan A is the same thing as Part A. It is not. Medicare Supplement Plan A is one of the Supplement plans that helps to fill in the gaps in Medicare. (Medicare Part A, on the other hand, is your original Medicare hospital coverage.)