About 7 minute read
Overview
Part A is often described as premium-free, and for most people who worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters that is true. Premium-free does not mean cost-free.
How it works
Part A uses benefit periods rather than a calendar year. A benefit period begins the day you are admitted as an inpatient and ends after you have been out of the hospital or skilled nursing facility for 60 consecutive days.
What to watch for
Each new benefit period brings a new Part A deductible. Someone hospitalized in January and again in June can owe that deductible twice in the same year.
What to do next
Extended stays add daily coinsurance amounts after day 60, and skilled nursing coinsurance begins after day 20. These are exactly the gaps a Medigap policy is designed to address.
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Book your free 15-min callThe information on this site is educational only and is not medical, legal, or tax advice. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) benefits are standardized where applicable, but premiums, availability, and underwriting rules vary by carrier and by state. Gilbert Services Southwest is not affiliated with or endorsed by the federal government or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Please consult a licensed insurance professional about your individual circumstances.
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