Inpatient hospital care
Medicare Coverage Information
Overview
Medicare provides comprehensive coverage for medically necessary inpatient hospital services through Medicare Part A. Beneficiaries can receive essential hospital treatments with specific cost-sharing requirements and coverage limitations.
- Covers medically necessary hospital stays in Medicare-certified facilities
- Includes semi-private rooms, meals, nursing care, and necessary medical treatments
- Requires meeting Medicare Part A deductible and potential coinsurance
- Covers up to 90 days of hospital care per benefit period
- Provides additional 60 lifetime reserve days for extended hospitalizations
- Medicare Part A beneficiaries
- Individuals 65 and older
- Some younger individuals with qualifying disabilities
- People with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
- Part A deductible applies per benefit period (approximately $1,600 in 2023)
- No cost for first 60 days of hospital stay after meeting deductible
- Daily coinsurance applies for days 61-90 of hospital stay
- Lifetime reserve days have higher daily coinsurance rates
- Must be medically necessary hospitalization
- Limited to Medicare-certified hospital facilities
- Requires physician certification of need for inpatient care
- Some specialized treatments may require additional documentation
- Verify hospital is Medicare-certified before admission
- Discuss coverage details with hospital billing department
- Review your specific Medicare plan's hospital coverage
- Contact 1-800-MEDICARE for specific coverage questions
Last updated: 6/15/2025
Quick Information
- Provider
- Medicare
- Last Updated
- 6/15/2025
- Topics
- Medicareinpatient hospital carehospital coverageMedicare Part Ahospital stay
Related Coverage Topics
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