Medicare Part A
Hospital Insurance
Part A is the foundation of Medicare. It covers the care you receive as an inpatient in a hospital or skilled nursing facility, as well as hospice care and some home health services.
What Part A Covers
Inpatient Hospital Care
Semi-private room, meals, general nursing, and most hospital services and supplies during an inpatient admission.
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)
Short-term skilled nursing or rehab care in a SNF after a qualifying 3-day hospital stay. Covered up to 100 days per benefit period.
Hospice Care
For people with a terminal illness who choose comfort care over curative treatment. Includes nursing, medications for comfort, and support for family.
Home Health Care
Skilled nursing or therapy services in your home when you are homebound and your doctor orders them.
What Part A Costs
Part A Premium
Most people pay $0/month for Part A if they (or their spouse) worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters). If you worked fewer quarters, a premium applies.
Exact dollar amounts change each year. Contact us for current figures or visit Medicare.gov.
Understanding "Benefit Periods"
Part A doesn't work like an annual deductible. It resets by benefit period — which begins the day you're admitted as an inpatient and ends after you haven't received inpatient hospital or SNF care for 60 consecutive days.
This means you could pay the hospital deductible more than once in a year if you have multiple hospital stays with 60+ days between them. This is one reason many people add a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy — it covers these gaps.
Questions about Part A in Wisconsin?
We can help you understand how Part A works with Part B, Medicare Advantage, and Medigap plans available in your county.
Talk to an Agent