Original Medicare Part A Coverage and Costs

Medicare Part A is the part of Medicare that covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health care in Florida. Specifically, Medicare Part A covers:

1. Inpatient hospital care: This includes semi-private rooms, meals, general nursing, and other hospital services and supplies.
2. Skilled nursing facility care: This includes skilled nursing care, rehabilitation services, and other services and supplies provided in a skilled nursing facility.
3. Hospice care: This includes medical and support services for people who are terminally ill and have a life expectancy of 6 months or less.
4. Home health care: This includes part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care and home health aide services, as well as medical supplies and equipment for use at home.

Deductibles and Coinsurance for Part A

The Medicare Part A inpatient hospital deductible that eligible beneficiaries in Florida pay if admitted to the hospital will be $1,632 in 2024. The Part A inpatient hospital deductible covers beneficiaries’ share of costs for the first 60 days of Medicare-covered inpatient hospital care in a benefit period. In 2024, beneficiaries must pay a coinsurance amount of $408 per day for the 61st through 90th day of a hospitalization in a benefit period and $816 per day for lifetime reserve days. For Florida Medicare beneficiaries in skilled nursing facilities, the daily coinsurance for days 21 through 100 of extended care services in a benefit period will be $204.00 in 2024.

Qualifying for Part A without a monthly premium

Most Floridians don't pay a premium for Part A because they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes while working at least 40 quarters of Medicare-covered employment. However, if you don't qualify for premium-free Part A, you may have to pay either $278 or $506 ($278 or $505 in 2024) each month for Part A, depending on how long you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes.

What seniors over 65 pay for Medicare will vary based on what coverage and services you get, and what medical providers you visit.
There's no yearly limit on what you pay out-of-pocket, unless you have a supplemental coverage, like a Medicare Advantage plan or Medigap policy.

Most recipients do not have to pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part A, which covers hospital insurance. To qualify for premium-free Part A, you generally need to meet one of the following criteria:

1. You or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters) while employed.
2. You are eligible for or receive Social Security benefits, Railroad Retirement benefits, or disability benefits from the Social Security Administration.
3. You or your spouse were a government employee and paid Medicare taxes while working.

If Florida Medicare recipients do not meet any of these criteria, they may still be able to enroll in Part A by paying a monthly premium. The amount of the premium will depend on how long you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes.