The Medicare Part A Deductible for 2024

The Medicare Part A deductible for 2024 is $1,632 per benefit period. This is the amount you pay out of your own pocket before Medicare starts to cover your hospital stay. The deductible applies each time you enter a hospital as an inpatient, not once per year — the timing depends on something called a benefit period, which resets after you have been out of the hospital for 60 days in a row.

Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care after a hospital stay, hospice care, and some home health services. The deductible only applies to inpatient hospital and skilled nursing stays, not to the other services. Once you have paid the deductible, Medicare covers the full cost of your hospital stay for the first 60 days, though you will owe copayments if you stay longer.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2024 Part A deductible is $1,632 per benefit period, which you pay when you are admitted to a hospital as an inpatient.
  • A benefit period starts when you enter the hospital and ends 60 days after you leave — if you go back within 60 days, you owe the deductible again.
  • After you pay the deductible, Medicare covers all hospital costs for days 1 through 60, but you owe copayments of $408 per day for days 61 through 90.
  • The deductible amount changes each year and is set by Medicare based on the average cost of hospital care.

How the Benefit Period Works

Understanding the benefit period is the key to knowing when you will owe the deductible again. A benefit period begins the day you are admitted to a hospital as an inpatient. It ends when you have been out of the hospital (and any skilled nursing facility) for 60 consecutive days. If you are readmitted within those 60 days, you do not owe a second deductible — you are still in the same benefit period.

Once 60 days pass without a hospital or skilled nursing stay, a new benefit period begins. If you go back to the hospital after that 60-day window closes, you owe the full $1,632 deductible again. This is different from how many people think about deductibles — it is not tied to the calendar year, so you could owe two deductibles in one calendar year if your hospital stays fall on either side of the 60-day mark.

What Medicare Covers After You Pay the Deductible

After you have paid the $1,632 deductible, Medicare covers the full cost of your hospital stay for the first 60 days of each benefit period. This includes your room, meals, nursing care, medications, lab tests, X-rays, and other medically necessary services. You pay nothing out of pocket during this time beyond the deductible you already paid.

If your hospital stay extends beyond 60 days, you enter what Medicare calls the "coinsurance period." From day 61 through day 90, you owe $408 per day. From day 91 onward, you owe $816 per day, and Medicare covers the rest. Most hospital stays end well before day 61, so many people never reach this point. However, if you have a serious illness or injury that requires a long hospitalization, these copayments can add up quickly.

Skilled Nursing Facility Costs Under Part A

If your doctor orders skilled nursing care after a hospital stay, Part A covers that too — but only if you were admitted to the hospital first and stayed at least three days. The skilled nursing facility is typically a nursing home or rehabilitation center where you receive care like physical therapy or wound care that requires a nurse or therapist.

You do not owe a separate deductible for skilled nursing care — the hospital deductible you already paid covers it. However, you do owe copayments: nothing for the first 20 days, then $204 per day for days 21 through 100. After 100 days in a benefit period, you pay the full cost yourself. Medicare Part A does not cover custodial care (help with bathing, dressing, or eating) unless it is part of skilled care you need for a medical reason.

How the Deductible Amount Is Set Each Year

Medicare recalculates the Part A deductible every October based on the average cost of hospital care in the United States during the previous year. The 2024 deductible of $1,632 is higher than the 2023 deductible of $1,600, reflecting increases in hospital costs. The deductible typically rises each year, though the amount of the increase varies.

You can find the current year's deductible on Medicare.gov or by calling Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE. If you have Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), you are responsible for paying this deductible yourself unless you have a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan that helps cover it. If you have Medicare Advantage, your plan may have a different deductible structure, so check your plan documents.

Medigap and Medicare Advantage Coverage of the Deductible

If you have a Medigap policy (also called supplemental insurance), the plan you chose determines whether it covers the Part A deductible. Some Medigap plans cover it fully, some cover part of it, and some do not cover it at all. Plans G, F, and C typically cover the full Part A deductible, while other plans may cover only a portion. Your Medigap policy documents will show exactly what you are covered for.

If you have Medicare Advantage, you have a different deductible structure altogether. Medicare Advantage plans set their own deductibles, which may be higher, lower, or the same as the Part A deductible. Some Medicare Advantage plans have no deductible at all, while others have separate deductibles for different types of care. Check your plan's summary of benefits or call the plan directly to find out what you owe for a hospital stay.

What Happens If You Cannot Pay the Deductible

If you cannot afford to pay the $1,632 deductible when you are admitted to the hospital, you should tell the hospital's financial counselor or billing department. Hospitals are required to work with patients on payment plans, and some offer financial information programs for uninsured or underinsured patients. You may also be able to set up a payment arrangement to pay the deductible over time rather than all at once.

Additionally, if your income is very low, you may be may be able to access for Medicaid, which can help pay Medicare costs including the Part A deductible. Each state runs its own Medicaid program with different income limits, so contact your state Medicaid office or call 211 to learn whether you might be may be able to access. Do not avoid going to the hospital because you cannot pay the deductible upfront — hospitals cannot refuse emergency care based on ability to pay, and financial information options exist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I owe the deductible every time I go to the hospital?

You owe it once per benefit period. If you are readmitted to the hospital within 60 days of leaving, you do not owe a second deductible. If you stay out of the hospital for 60 consecutive days and then are readmitted, you owe the deductible again.

Does the Part A deductible count toward my Part B deductible?

No. Part A and Part B have separate deductibles. The Part A deductible ($1,632 in 2024) applies to hospital stays. Part B has its own annual deductible ($240 in 2024) that applies to doctor visits and outpatient services. You must meet both deductibles separately.

What if I have both Medicare and Medicaid?

If you are may be able to access for both programs, Medicaid may pay your Medicare deductibles and copayments. This depends on your state's rules and your income level. Contact your state Medicaid office to find out what Medicaid will cover for you.

Does my Medicare Advantage plan use the same deductible as Original Medicare?

No. Medicare Advantage plans set their own deductibles, which may be higher, lower, or zero. Check your plan's summary of benefits or contact the plan to find out what you owe for a hospital stay.