MEDICARE PART A
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How much does Part A cost?
Premium-free Part A
You usually don't pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) coverage if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for a certain amount of time while working. This is sometimes called "premium-free Part A."
Most people get premium-free Part A.
You can get premium-free Part A at 65 if:
You already get retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.
You're eligible to get Social Security or Railroad benefits but haven't filed for them yet.
You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.
If you're under 65, you can get premium-free Part A if:
You got Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for 24 months.
You have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and meet certain requirements.
Part A premiums
If you don't qualify for premium-free Part A, you can buy Part A.
If you buy Part A, you'll pay up to $458 each month. If you paid Medicare taxes for less than 30 quarters, the standard Part A premium is $458. If you paid Medicare taxes for 30-39 quarters, the standard Part A premium is $252.
In most cases, if you choose to buy Part A, you must also:
Pay monthly premiums for both Part A and Part B
Contact Social Security for more information about the Part A premium.