Is Medicare Part A enough for hospital coverage?

Question

Chris Bumgardner · Accepted Answer

Part A covers hospital stays, but it is not always enough on its own.  Most people need more than Part A. 

   Consider Part B, covers Doctors, outpatient services and diagnostic testing. 
   Consider Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage, Part C.
   Consider part D, prescription drugs.

Larry Dalton · Answer

Although Medicare Part A primarily covers hospital insurance, it mainly focuses on room and board and other additional hospital services. 

However, it does not include the medical care received under Medicare Part B. Medicare Part B covers expenses such as anesthesiologists, surgeons, physicians, and other services during a hospital stay. However, there are still gaps in your coverage that Medicare Part A and B do not cover 100%. These gaps can be filled by a Medicare supplemental plan, often referred to in the industry as Medigap plans, which helps cover the remaining balance of the costs.  

There is also a penalty if you do not take your Medicare Part B out when it is offered to you.  This penalty is for each month you go without Part B, and it is carried throughout your lifetime.

Melonie Wood · Answer

A member will have only Part A IF they are still working & covered on their employer plan. Once a person leaves their employer plan, they must apply for part B which covers doctors, medical equipment, out patient, preventive services

Answered by Melonie Wood on March 25, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL & AL

Answered by Melonie Wood Medicare Insurance Agent

Brian Moore · Answer

Medicare Part A covers a lot for hospital stays—like inpatient care, skilled nursing, and hospice—but it’s not always enough on its own since it comes with costs like a $1,632 deductible per benefit period in 2025 and no cap on how many times that could hit if you’re in and out of the hospital. It also doesn’t cover outpatient services or extras like private rooms unless medically necessary, which is why I’ve seen folks pair it with Part B and either a Supplement like Plan G or a Medicare Advantage plan to close those gaps. From my experience, sticking with just Part A can leave you facing some steep bills if your health takes a turn, so it’s smart to consider what additional coverage fits your needs.

Answered by Brian Moore on March 27, 2025

Broker Licensed in OH

Answered by Brian Moore Medicare Insurance Agent

Lt Col Tim Brown · Answer

Not if that is all you have. Do you have group insurance too? I find and I can speak from personal experience, Medicare A & B and one of the plans that go with Medicare is excellent coverage. I have been doing insurance for 37 years (come Sept) I went on Medicare a little over a year ago and picked one of the plans that go with Medicare and its the best coverage I have found.

Answered by Lt Col Tim Brown on April 21, 2025

Broker Licensed in TN, AL, CO & 10 other states

Answered by Lt Col Tim Brown Medicare Insurance Agent

William Lawler · Answer

Medicare is an 80/20 health plan, where you are responsible for 20% of hospital costs. If you enrolled in Part B and also enrolled in either an Advantage plan or Medigap plan, more of the costs would be covered.

Answered by William Lawler on March 27, 2025

Broker Licensed in MO, FL, IA & 12 other states

Answered by William Lawler Medicare Insurance Agent

Brian Krantz · Answer

No, Part A by itself isn’t enough. It has deductibles and coverage limits. You still need Part B and either a Supplement or Advantage plan to make sure you’re fully protected.

Charise Karjala · Answer

This answer is provided in a video format. Watch the agent's video response here: https://medicareagentshub.com/questions/what-does-medicare-part-a-cover#charise-karjala

Christopher Boyd · Answer

If the senior does not receive federal or state financial assistance, the senior maybe responsible for hospital inpatient deductibles or copays. Medicare Supplements may cover this cost at 100% depending on the supplement chosen. Medicare Advantage or Part C may have daily hospital copays for a limited number of inpatient admission days.

Answered by Christopher Boyd on March 4, 2025

Agent Licensed in IN, KY, MI, OH, PA & TN

Answered by Christopher Boyd Medicare Insurance Agent

Paul Potter · Answer

Hospital costs usually exceed the amount Medicare Part A covers.  That is why people often get Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement Plans.  Further, if you only have Medicare, there is not limit of your liability.

If you would like to discuss further, you can email me at PaulPotter@Email.com or call 321-346-9996.

Laura Shipman · Answer

If a beneficiary who has only Part A of Medicare is hospitalized as an inpatient then Medicare Part A will cover most of the stay except for the Part A deductible, all Doctor's that provide care including Surgeons.
Part A will not cover outpatient care in a hospital such as ER, Outpatient Surgery and any Outpatient services that are provided by a Hospital.

Edward Smith, ChFC, CRPS, AIF · Answer

Not necessarily. It covers a large percentage (80%) of covered expenses but the 20% the Medicare beneficiary is responsible for has not cap and medical expenses can add up quickley.

David Moscowitz · Answer

It covers basic hospital coverage, however not indefinitely, also other costs such as specific tests and therapies are not covered with basic Medicare.

Luis Daza · Answer

No, a hospital indemnity plan will help pay for those copays and deductibles not covered by Medicare.

Amie Randall · Answer

No, you need secondary coverage to offset the deductible and co-pays for a hospital stay that are not covered by part A.

Steven Bleicher · Answer

When you become eligible for Medicare (usually at age 65), Part A is totally free as long as you've worked for 10 years, contributing to Social Security, taken out of your paycheck during that time. Bear in mind that Part A (inpatient hospital admittance) will pay 80% of the charges surrounding your treatments/surgery. The other 20% is normally covered by applying to either a Medicare Supplement or a Medicare Advantage plan. However, if you're still working, it's normal that your employer is paying for your healthcare unless you're working part-time.
So, to answer your question, Medicare pays for over 60,000 different procedures. As long as yours has a dollar value associated with it, it should be enough. But if you are considering an experimental treatment, Medicare does not pay for that until CMS approves it.

Leslie Helene Sussman · Answer

NO Original Medicare PART A is not enough for Hospital Coverage.    If you have ever received a bill from a hospital 80% coverage is not sufficient.

Part A helps pay for hospital stays and inpatient care typically at 80% coverage.  Plus there is also a Deductible to meet.   The biggest disadvantage with only Part A coverage is there is NO cap on the Out of pocket you could be responsible for.  

Medicare Advantage plan has a cap on the Max Out of Pocket (MOOP)
Medicare Supplement/Medigap covers hospital coverage

Shelly Hefley · Answer

If you have a supplemental coverage, it should pay your hospital co- insurance.  It is always best to have a licensed broker review your specific coverage and help you be informed.

Sean Davis · Answer

Medicare Part A provides essential hospital coverage, including inpatient stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health services. However, it may not cover all medical expenses, such as outpatient services, deductibles, coinsurance, and certain procedures. Many beneficiaries choose to pair Part A with Medicare Part B for comprehensive coverage, as Part B covers outpatient care, doctor visits, and preventive services. To ensure adequate coverage, it’s important to evaluate your healthcare needs and consider additional options like a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medigap policy.

Answered by Sean Davis on March 26, 2025

Broker Licensed in NY, LA, MD & 6 other states

Answered by Sean Davis Medicare Insurance Agent

DeeDee Whitlock · Answer

I recommend a Medicare Supplement to help with the expenses associated with Hospital expense. There are so many options that will put an out of pocket max so that if something tragic happens you will have the coverage

Answered by DeeDee Whitlock on April 2, 2025

Broker Licensed in LA

Answered by DeeDee Whitlock Medicare Insurance Agent

Gretchen Morris · Answer

No it isn't. There are some large repeating deductibles and some hefty co insurance payments you would be liable for without extra coverage.

Helena Foutz, RSSA · Answer

Medicare Part A has a $1,676 deductible and only covers for the first 60 days when you are first admitted, so no, it would be a good idea to have other coverage to make up the difference.

Lea Ayres · Answer

While Medicare Part A helps with inpatient hospital costs and related services, it might not cover everything. It's essential to consider both Medicare Part A and Part B for comprehensive coverage, including doctor visits and outpatient care.

Answered by Lea Ayres on March 12, 2025

Broker Licensed in PA, CT, MD & 8 other states

Answered by Lea Ayres Medicare Insurance Agent

Ryan Raphael · Answer

Medicare part A only is not enough coverage for hospital. There is a large deductible so that's exactly why people need some sort of Medicare Plan.

Mitchell Jerome · Answer

Absolutely not! You have a huge deductible and incur very high finanacial risk. Get a Supplement or Advantage plan.

Karen Marriner · Answer

In 2025, the Part A deductible is $1676, which means you'll pay the first $1676 of your hospital bill. Understand that without Part B none of the professional fees will be covered so I don't recommend just having Part A.

Answered by Karen Marriner on March 27, 2025

Agent Licensed in CA

Answered by Karen Marriner Medicare Insurance Agent

Linda Bolan · Answer

No, Part A primarily covers inpatient hospital care. With Part A you are still responsible for deductibles and coinsurance. These out-of-pocket costs can add up, especially during extended hospital stays. It will not cover long term custodial care.

Answered by Linda Bolan on March 12, 2025

Agent Licensed in IN

Answered by Linda Bolan Medicare Insurance Agent

Jack Mayer · Answer

Part A Hospital by itself is not enough to take care of the hospital bills. Medicare Hospital Part A has huge gaps and frankly with out a health plan, a supplement or medigap plan to cover the deductible and daily co-pays, by itself will add up quickly and it would not be advised to go with just Medicare Part A without a health plan to cover the gaps.

Answered by Jack Mayer on May 8, 2025

Agent Licensed in CA & NV

Answered by Jack Mayer Medicare Insurance Agent

Gregory Gudis · Answer

Medicare Part A is the hospital insurance part of Original Medicare but it is not a comprehensive solution. The addition of Part B and Part C or Medigap would give the beneficiary a more complete plan.

Answered by Gregory Gudis on March 31, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ, CO, CT & 16 other states

Answered by Gregory Gudis Medicare Insurance Agent

Justin Hundley · Answer

If all you have is original Medicare, then you can expect to pay your Part A deductible before coverage begins ($1,676 for 2025), at which point Medicare will begin to cover the first 60 days of your hospital stay. The copays you can expect to pay are:

Days 1-60: During this time you will have a $0 copay after meeting your deductible
Days 61-90: $419 copay each day
Days 91 and beyond: $838 each day for each lifetime reserve day (you get 60 reserve days over your lifetime)

For this reason, it is important to shop for either a Medicare supplement plan, or Medicare advantage plan in your area. Both of these products can help with the cost of hospital stays in different ways. Working with a licensed Medicare agent can help you understand exactly how these options work.

Micheal Rohlmeier · Answer

This is a personal question.
While Part A provides coverage for hospital services, for most beneficiaries the costs associated with Part A leaves them exposed to financial risk they do not feel comfortable with.  Therefore, most people look at bolstering their Original Medicare coverage with other coverage.

Althea Sanders · Answer

With Medicare Part A for your hospital coverage - you will still have some out of pocket expense. There is no co-pay for a hospital stay but there IS a deductible. For 2025, the deductible for a hospital stay is $1,676. Days 1 - 60 are $0 per day after you pay the deductible. However, there is a cost of $419 per day for days 61-90 and $838 per day for days 91-150. 

You could pay the deductible multiple times each year if there are multiple admissions. 

Feel free to message me if you would like further explanation!