Medicare Part A is Hospital Insurance

Medicare Part A - Hospital Insurance

Part A (hospital insurance) helps pay for:

• Inpatient care in a hospital
• Care at a skilled nursing facility (SNF) after a hospital stay
• Some home health care and hospice care services

You are eligible at age 65 for Part A coverage at no cost if any of these apply to you:

• You receive or are eligible to receive Social Security benefits
• You receive or are eligible to receive Railroad Retirement Board benefits
• You may be eligible for Medicare Part A based on your spouse’s work history if:
  • You are currently married and your spouse is eligible for Social Security benefits (either retirement or disability). In addition, you must have been married for at least one year before applying.
  • You are divorced and your former spouse is eligible for Social Security benefits (either retirement or disability). In addition, you must have been married for at least 10 years and you must be single.
  • You are widowed and you were married for at least nine months before your spouse died. In addition, you must be single.

Even if you don’t meet any of these requirements at age 65, you may be able to get Part A by paying a monthly premium. Usually, you can sign up for this hospital insurance only during certain enrollment periods.

Learn more about signing up for Medicare Part A or changing plans.

If you have any questions about Part A or your eligibility, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778.