What is Original Medicare (Part A and Part B)?

Original Medicare (also called traditional Medicare) is individual insurance provided by the federal government. It includes Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance).

Part A

Helps pay for hospital stays and inpatient care

Part B

Helps pay for doctor visits and outpatient care

What is Medicare Part A?

What is Medicare Part B?

How to enroll in Medicare Part A or Part B

Late-enrollment penalties for Medicare Part A and Part B

What Original Medicare doesn’t cover

Would I benefit from additional coverage?

Who is eligible for Original Medicare?

You may become eligible to receive Medicare benefits based on any one of the following:

You are age 65 or older

You are younger than 65 with a qualifying disability (Medicare eligibility begins after 24 months of receiving Social Security disability benefits)

You have a diagnosis of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also called Lou Gehrig's disease) at any age

You must be a U.S. citizen and legal resident. Legal residents must live in the United States for at least 5 years in a row, including the 5 years just before applying for Medicare.

Learn more about Medicare eligibility

What is Medicare Part A?

Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) is one half of Original Medicare. Part A covers hospital stays and most of the services you receive as an inpatient in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. Costs may not be covered by Part A if you are in the hospital for observation.

What does Medicare Part A cover?

Medicare Part A covers the hospital charges and most of the services you receive when you're in the hospital.

Hospital stays and inpatient care, including:

A semi-private room
Hospital meals
Skilled nursing services
Care in special units, like intensive care
Drugs, medical supplies and medical equipment used during an inpatient stay
Lab tests, X-rays and medical equipment used as an inpatient
Operating room and recovery room services
Some blood transfusions in a hospital or skilled nursing facility
Inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation services after a qualified inpatient stay
Part-time, skilled care for the homebound
Hospice care for the terminally ill, including medication to manage symptoms and control pain

What is not covered by Medicare Part A?

Personal expenses while hospitalized, like a TV or phone service
Most care outside of the United States
Custodial care (care that helps with daily life activities, like eating and bathing)
Long-term care
Days spent in a psychiatric hospital beyond certain set limits
Hospital stays beyond certain set limits

How much does Medicare Part A cost?

Medicare Part A is free for most people. You do not have to pay a premium for Part A if you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. Part A does charge a deductible and copays. Part A deductibles are charged per benefit period. A benefit period begins the day you are admitted to the hospital and ends when you’ve been out of the hospital 60 days in a row.

You pay one deductible even if you have more than one hospital stay during a single benefit period. Below you'll see the different Medicare Part A costs that may apply. Costs are shown for 2024.

Part A premium

For most people: $0

If applicable: Up to $505 per month in 2024

Part A deductible

Per benefit period: $1,632 in 2024

Part A copayment

Hospital

Days 1–60: $0

Days 61–90: $408 per day in 2024

Days 91 and beyond: $816 per day in 2024 up to 60 lifetime reserve days*

Skilled nursing facility (per benefit period)

Days 1–60: $0

Days 61–90: $204 in 2024

Days 91 and beyond: You pay all costs

Hospice care

Medications for pain and symptom management:

Up to $5 per prescription

Durable medical equipment used at home; and respite care:

Home hospice patients may pay a small coinsurance amount for inpatient respite care or durable medical equipment used at home.

*Lifetime reserve days are a set number of covered hospital days you can draw on if you’re in the hospital longer than 90 days. You have 60. Each lifetime reserve day may be used only once, but you may apply the days to different benefit periods. Lifetime reserve days may not be used to extend coverage in a skilled nursing facility.

What is Medicare Part B?

Medicare Part B (medical insurance) is the other half of Original Medicare. Part B covers care you receive in a clinic or hospital as an outpatient including most doctor services you receive as an inpatient, doctor visits, most routine and emergency medical services and some preventive care. The list below shows examples of some of the items and services Part B covers.

Note: Generally, Medicare Part B is not required. You can choose to opt out and only enroll in Part A, but you may need to enroll in both Part A and Part B to qualify for other coverage, such as a Medicare Advantage plan.

What does Medicare Part B cover?

Medicare Part B covers doctor visits and most routine and emergency medical services. It also covers some preventive care, like flu shots.

Doctor visits, including when you are in the hospital
An annual wellness visit and preventive services, like flu shots and mammograms
Clinical laboratory services, like blood and urine tests
X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, EKGs and some other diagnostic tests
Some health programs, like smoking cessation, obesity counseling and cardiac rehab
Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology services
Diabetes screenings, diabetes education and certain diabetes supplies
Mental health care
Durable medical equipment for use at home, like wheelchairs and walkers
Ambulatory surgery center services
Ambulance and emergency room services
Skilled nursing care and health aide services for the homebound on a part-time or intermittent basis

What is not covered by Medicare Part B

Eye exams, eyeglasses or contact lenses
Hearing tests or hearing aids
Dental exams, cleanings, X-rays or routine dental care
Acupuncture
Most prescription drugs
Long-term care (also called custodial care)
Cosmetic surgery
Routine foot care

Part B coverage limits: Preventive services and screenings are covered on set schedules, like a yearly flu shot. Other services and supplies must be medically necessary to diagnose or treat a disease or condition.

How much does Medicare Part B cost?

Medicare Part B shares some costs with you when you see the doctor or use other medical services. Part B has a monthly premium that is either deducted from your monthly Social Security benefits check or that you pay directly to Medicare. The amount you pay can vary depending on your tax reported income from two years prior.

Below you'll see the different costs that may apply. Part B costs include a monthly premium, an annual deductible, and coinsurance for most services. Costs shown are for 2024.

Part B premium

Per month: $174.70 to $594 in 2024, depending on income

Part B deductible

Per year: $240 in 2024

Part B coinsurance

Most medical services: 20% of the Medicare-approved amount

Durable medical equipment: 20% of the Medicare-approved amount

Outpatient mental health care: 20% of the Medicare-approved amount

How Medicare Part B cost sharing works

You will pay the Medicare Part B premium and share part of costs with Medicare for covered Part B health care services. Medicare Part B pays 80% of the cost for most outpatient care and services, and you pay 20%.

For 2024, the standard monthly Part B premium is $174.70.

You'll pay the standard amount if:

You enroll for the first time in 2024.
You aren't receiving Social Security benefits.
Your premiums are billed directly to you.
You have Medicare and Medicaid, and Medicaid pays your premiums.

Your Part B premium may be less than the standard amount if you enrolled in Part B in 2022 or earlier and your premium payments are deducted from your Social Security check.

Your premium may be more than the standard amount based on your income. You will pay an income‑related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) if your reported income was above $103,000 for individuals or $206,000 for couples in 2024. Visit Medicare.gov to learn more about IRMAA.

And while Medicare will share your Part B health care costs with you, there is something called "Medicare assignment" that's important to understand.

Doctors and providers who accept Medicare assignment agree to take what Medicare pays—the Medicare-approved amount—as payment in full. Medicare reduces the approved amount it pays for doctors who don't accept Medicare assignment. Doctors who don't accept Medicare assignment may charge more than the Medicare-approved amount. You may have to pay the additional cost, which is called "excess charges."

Medicare Part B covers doctor visits, lab tests, preventive screenings and other outpatient health care services. Part B costs include a monthly premium, an annual deductible and coinsurance for most services.

Factors that may affect Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) costs

The costs associated with Medicare Part A and Part B depend on the health care needs of the individual. Outside of the coverage details listed above, additional factors that may impact the cost of Original Medicare include:

Personal health care needs regarding the frequency of services

The costs of services and supplies not covered by your Medicare plan(s)

Choosing a health care provider that is in or out of network

Whether you have Medicaid or a Medicare Supplement plan
Whether you have an additional health insurance coverage that works with Medicare

How to enroll in Medicare Part A or Part B

There are two ways to get Medicare Part A and Part B.

The first is to only get Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), which covers the above items and services. You can choose to add additional coverage at an added cost for things like prescription drugs (Part D) or out-of-pocket costs (Medicare Supplement insurance). You get Original Medicare from the Social Security Administration.

The second option is to get a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan that provides the Part A and Part B coverage as well as usually including Part D prescription drug coverage and extra benefits like vision, dental, hearing, and fitness. You get Medicare Advantage plans from private insurance companies approved by Medicare.

If you are receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you will be enrolled in Medicare automatically when you turn 65 and get your Medicare card in the mail. If you are not enrolled automatically, you will need to sign up by yourself. You can enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B online at www.ssa.gov, in person at your local Social Security office or by phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

Late enrollment penalties for Medicare Part A and Part B

Both Medicare Part A and Part B can have late enrollment premium penalties.

The Part A late enrollment penalty

If you must pay a Part A premium and enroll late, you could pay a penalty. The Part A late enrollment penalty is 10% of the Part A premium. You pay the penalty in addition to your Part A premium for twice the number of years you delay enrollment.

Example: If you delay 2 years, you will pay an additional 10% of the Part A premium for 4 years (2 x 2 years).

The Part B late enrollment penalty

The Part B penalty is 10% of the monthly premium amount for each full 12-month period enrollment is delayed. You pay the Part B premium penalty in addition to your Part B premium for as long as you have Medicare Part B.

Example: You delayed Part B 3 years. To calculate how much your penalty will cost, you'll multiply (10% of Part B premium) x (# of years enrollment is delayed). In this case, (10%) x (3). Thus, your Part B premium penalty will be 30% of the Part B premium.

What Original Medicare doesn't cover

Original Medicare doesn't cover everything. With a few exceptions, Original Medicare doesn't include coverage for prescription drugs. It also does not cover health care benefits you may have been used to getting with an employer plan such as dental, vision, hearing health care or wellness items like fitness memberships.

Learn more about getting prescription drug coverage

Learn how to get coverage for dental, vision and other benefits with Medicare

The following are some common health services and items not covered by Medicare Part A or Part B.

Original Medicare does not cover:

Most care outside of the United States
Personal expenses while hospitalized, such as a TV or phone
Custodial care (care that helps with daily life activities like eating or bathing)
Long-term care
Days spent in a psychiatric hospital beyond certain set limits
Hospital days beyond set limits
Eye exams, eyeglasses or contact lenses
Hearing exams or hearing aids
Dental exams, cleanings, X-rays or routine dental care
Most prescription drugs
Wellness benefits such as gym memberships

Would I benefit from additional coverage?

Depending on your specific health care needs, a Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement insurance (Medigap) or Medicare Part D plan from a private insurer may help you meet health care coverage needs not met by Original Medicare.

Explore the differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans

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What is Original Medicare (Part A and Part B)?

Part A

Part B

Who is eligible for Original Medicare?

What is Medicare Part A?

What does Medicare Part A cover?

What is not covered by Medicare Part A?

How much does Medicare Part A cost?

Part A premium

Part A deductible

Part A copayment

What is Medicare Part B?

What does Medicare Part B cover?

What is not covered by Medicare Part B

How much does Medicare Part B cost?

Part B premium

Part B deductible

Part B coinsurance

How Medicare Part B cost sharing works

Factors that may affect Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) costs

How to enroll in Medicare Part A or Part B

Late enrollment penalties for Medicare Part A and Part B

The Part A late enrollment penalty

The Part B late enrollment penalty

What Original Medicare doesn't cover

Would I benefit from additional coverage?

Need help finding a plan?

Read next: Types of Medicare and Medigap insurance plans

Chat with UnitedHealthcare

Call UnitedHealthcare

Find a plan

Meet with us

Already a member?

Read next:

Types of Medicare and Medigap insurance plans