The Medicare Part A deductible is a fixed amount you pay out of pocket before Medicare starts to cover your hospital and skilled nursing care

When you go to the hospital or enter a skilled nursing facility, Medicare Part A does not pay anything until you have paid a deductible first. For 2024, that deductible is $1,676 per benefit period — but the amount changes each year. Once you meet the deductible, Medicare covers most of your inpatient hospital care, though you will still pay daily coinsurance amounts if your stay is long.

The deductible applies per benefit period, not per calendar year. A benefit period starts the day you enter the hospital and ends 60 days after you leave — if you go back to the hospital after those 60 days, a new benefit period begins and you owe a new deductible. This is different from how many people think about deductibles, and it can mean paying more than once in a single year.

Key Takeaways

  • The Part A deductible for 2024 is $1,676 per benefit period, and you pay it before Medicare covers any inpatient hospital or skilled nursing facility costs.
  • A benefit period resets 60 days after you leave the hospital, so multiple hospital stays in one year can mean multiple deductibles.
  • After you pay the deductible, Medicare covers your hospital stay, but you will owe daily coinsurance amounts if you stay longer than a certain number of days.
  • People with limited income may receive help paying the deductible through Medicaid or other state programs.

When you pay the Part A deductible

You pay the deductible when you are admitted to the hospital as an inpatient. The hospital bills Medicare, Medicare tells the hospital you have not met your deductible yet, and the hospital sends you a bill for the full amount. You do not pay it upfront — it happens after admission, and the hospital will work with you on payment arrangements if you cannot pay all at once.

The deductible covers both inpatient hospital stays and inpatient skilled nursing facility stays, as long as the skilled nursing stay follows a hospital stay of at least three days. If you go to a skilled nursing facility without a may have access to hospital stay first, Part A does not cover it at all, and the deductible does not explore.

What happens after you pay the deductible

Once you have paid the $1,676, Medicare covers the full cost of your hospital room, meals, medications, lab tests, and most other inpatient services for days 1 through 60 of your hospital stay. You pay nothing more during those first 60 days.

On days 61 through 90, you owe a daily coinsurance amount — for 2024, that is $419 per day. If you stay longer than 90 days, Medicare covers you for up to 60 additional "lifetime reserve days," but you pay $838 per day during those days. After your lifetime reserve days are used, you pay all costs yourself. Lifetime reserve days do not renew each year; once you use them, they are gone.

How the benefit period works and why it matters

Understanding the benefit period is the key to knowing how many deductibles you might owe in a year. The benefit period is not a calendar year — it is tied to your hospital stays. It begins the day you enter the hospital as an inpatient and ends 60 days after you are discharged.

If you leave the hospital on January 15 and do not return until March 20, you have started a new benefit period on March 20, and you owe a new deductible. If you go back to the hospital on March 14 — within the 60-day window — you are still in the same benefit period and do not owe another deductible. This structure means someone with multiple short hospital stays in one year can end up paying the deductible three or four times.

Who pays the deductible and when it changes

You are responsible for paying the deductible unless you have other insurance that covers it or you may have access to for Medicaid. Some retirees have supplemental insurance (also called Medigap) that pays the Part A deductible on your behalf, so check your policy. Others have coverage through a former employer or a union.

The deductible amount is set by Medicare each year and is based on the average cost of a hospital stay. It typically increases by a few hundred dollars each year. For the most current amount, check Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Your hospital billing department can also tell you the current deductible when you are admitted.

Help paying the deductible if you have low income

If your income is low, you may be covered by your state's Medicaid program, which can pay your Part A deductible and other Medicare costs. Medicaid rules vary by state — some states cover people with income up to 100% of the federal poverty level, and others go higher. You explore through your state Medicaid office, not through Medicare.

Some people also may have access to for the Medicare Savings Program, which helps pay Medicare premiums and deductibles. To learn whether you may have access to, contact your state Medicaid office or call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask about programs in your state. The process takes a few weeks, so it is worth starting early if you think you might may have access to.

The difference between Part A and Part B deductibles

Medicare Part B (which covers doctor visits and outpatient care) has its own separate deductible. For 2024, the Part B deductible is $240 per year. Part B deductibles work differently — they are calendar-year based, not benefit-period based, and they explore to outpatient services, not hospital stays. You can meet both a Part A and a Part B deductible in the same year.

If you have a Medigap plan, it may cover your Part B deductible as well as your Part A deductible, depending on which plan you chose. Check your policy documents or call your insurance company to see what is covered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay the deductible if I have Medicare Advantage?

Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) replace Original Medicare, so they do not use the Part A deductible. Instead, they have their own deductibles and out-of-pocket limits set by the insurance company. Your plan documents will show what you owe for hospital stays.

What if I go to the emergency room but am not admitted to the hospital?

If you are treated in the emergency room and sent home, Part B covers the visit, not Part A. You will owe your Part B deductible and coinsurance, not the Part A deductible. Part A only applies to inpatient hospital admissions.

Can I use my Medigap plan to pay the deductible?

It depends on which Medigap plan you have. Plans C, D, G, and M cover the Part A deductible. Plans A, B, F, K, L, N, and Q do not. Check your policy or call your insurance company to confirm what your plan covers.

What happens if I cannot pay the deductible when I am admitted?

Tell the hospital billing department about your situation. Hospitals have financial counselors who can discuss payment plans, charity care programs, or other options. You should not avoid the hospital because of the deductible — work with the billing office to find a solution.

Does the deductible reset on January 1?

No. The Part A deductible resets based on your benefit period, which is tied to hospital stays, not the calendar. You could owe multiple deductibles in one calendar year if you have multiple hospital stays, or you might owe only one deductible even if your stays span two calendar years.