medicare cost

$0 for most people (because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes long enough while working – generally at least 10 years). If you get Medicare earlier than age 65, you won’t pay a Part A premium. This is sometimes called “premium-free Part A.”

Who qualifies for Part A without paying a monthly premium?

If you don’t qualify for premium-free Part A: You might be able to buy it. You’ll pay either $278 or $506 each month for Part A, depending on how long you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes.

Remember:

• You also have to sign up for Part B to buy Part A. Learn more about how Medicare works.
• If you don’t buy Part A when you’re first eligible for Medicare (usually when you turn 65), you might pay a penalty. Find out more about how to avoid the Part A penalty.

$1,600 for each inpatient hospital
benefit period
, before
Original Medicare
starts to pay.

There’s no limit to the number of benefit periods you can have in a year. This means you may pay the deductible more than once in a year.

How do benefit periods work?

• Days 1-60: $0 after you pay your Part A deductible.
• Days 61-90: $400 copayment each day.
• Days 91-150: $800 copayment each day while using your 60
  lifetime reserve days
  .
• After day 150: You pay all costs.

What’s not covered?

What will I pay if I get mental health services as an inpatient?

• Days 1-20: $0 copayment.
• Days 21-100: $200 copayment each day.
• Days 101 and beyond: You pay all costs.

$0 for covered home health care services.

20% of the
Medicare-approved amount
for durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, and other equipment)

$0 for covered hospice care services.

You may also pay:

• A copayment of up to $5 for each prescription drug and other similar products for pain relief and symptom control while you’re at home.
  

  
  What if my hospice care doesn’t pay for my drug?
  
  

• 5% of the
  Medicare-approved amount
  for inpatient
  respite care
  .
  

  
  What’s not covered (hospice)?