Hospital
Part A Coinsurance and Hospital Costs
Plan A covers Part A hospital coinsurance and provides up to 365 additional hospital days after Medicare benefits are used.
Medigap Plan A is the baseline standardized Medicare Supplement plan in most states. It covers several of Original Medicare's core coinsurance costs, including hospital coinsurance and Part B coinsurance, but it leaves important expenses such as the Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, Part B excess charges, and foreign travel emergency care uncovered.
Medigap Plan A covers 100% of four standardized benefits: Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs for up to 365 additional days after Medicare benefits are used, Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayments, the first three pints of blood, and Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments.
Plan A does not cover skilled nursing facility coinsurance, the Part A deductible, the Part B deductible, Part B excess charges, or foreign travel emergency benefits. That makes it a simpler supplement than plans such as Plan G or Plan N.
In most states, Medigap benefits are standardized by plan letter. A Plan A policy from one insurance company provides the same basic standardized Plan A benefits as Plan A from another company, although premiums can vary.
| Medigap Benefit | Plan A | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Part A coinsurance and hospital costs, including up to 365 additional days | ✓ 100% | Covered |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | ✓ 100% | Covered after the Part B deductible is met |
| Blood, first 3 pints | ✓ 100% | Covered |
| Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment | ✓ 100% | Covered |
| Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | ✕ Not covered | You remain responsible for this cost |
| Part A deductible | ✕ Not covered | $1,736 per benefit period in 2026 |
| Part B deductible | ✕ Not covered | $283 in 2026 |
| Part B excess charges | ✕ Not covered | You may owe excess charges where permitted |
| Foreign travel emergency, up to plan limits | ✕ Not covered | No standardized foreign travel emergency benefit |
| Annual Medigap out-of-pocket limit | N/A | Plan A does not have the K/L-style annual out-of-pocket limit |
Plan A focuses on the basic cost-sharing protections that every standardized Medigap plan is built upon.
Plan A covers Part A hospital coinsurance and provides up to 365 additional hospital days after Medicare benefits are used.
After you meet the Part B deductible, Plan A covers the standardized Part B coinsurance or copayment benefit, which is commonly 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for many Part B services.
Plan A covers the first three pints of blood used for a covered medical procedure when that blood is not otherwise replaced.
Plan A covers the Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayments that can apply to certain covered hospice services.
The simplicity of Plan A also means you keep several costs that more comprehensive Medigap plans may cover.
Plan A does not cover the skilled nursing facility coinsurance that applies during certain covered stays.
Plan A does not cover the inpatient hospital Part A deductible. In 2026, the deductible is $1,736 for each benefit period.
Plan A does not cover the annual Part B deductible. In 2026, that deductible is $283.
Plan A does not cover Part B excess charges if you receive care from a provider who is permitted to charge above the Medicare-approved amount.
Plan A does not include the standardized foreign travel emergency benefit available in certain other Medigap plans.
Modern Medigap policies do not include Part D prescription drug coverage, and Medigap generally does not cover routine dental, vision, hearing aids, or long-term custodial care.
Plan A can reduce important coinsurance exposure, but it does not eliminate all Original Medicare cost-sharing.
Plan A covers the standardized core benefits, while other plan letters may add protection for additional Medicare cost-sharing.
Plan A provides fewer standardized benefits than many other lettered plans, but that does not guarantee it will have the lowest premium. Premiums can vary widely by insurance company, location, age, household discounts, and the insurer's pricing method. Compare the same plan letter across multiple carriers, then compare the total coverage tradeoff against other plan letters.
Plan A may appeal to someone who wants basic supplemental protection while accepting more cost-sharing risk than with broader Medigap options.
Your timing can affect both your access to a policy and whether medical underwriting can be used.
It starts the first month you have Medicare Part B and are age 65 or older. During this period, you can buy any Medigap policy sold in your state and an insurance company cannot deny you because of pre-existing health problems. After this period, your choices may be more limited, you may pay more, or an insurer may be allowed to use medical underwriting unless you have a guaranteed issue right or additional state protection.
Medigap Plan A is a standardized Medicare Supplement plan that helps pay certain out-of-pocket costs left by Original Medicare. In most states, it is the baseline Medigap plan and includes four core standardized benefits.
No. Plan A does not cover the Part A inpatient hospital deductible. In 2026, that deductible is $1,736 for each benefit period.
No. Plan A does not cover the annual Part B deductible, which is $283 in 2026.
Yes. After the Part B deductible is met, Plan A covers the standardized Part B coinsurance or copayment benefit. For many Part B services, Original Medicare's beneficiary share is typically 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.
No. Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance is not included in standardized Plan A benefits.
No. If a Part B excess charge applies, Plan A does not pay that charge.
No. Plan A does not include the standardized foreign travel emergency benefit available in certain other Medigap plans.
No. Medigap policies sold after 2005 do not include prescription drug coverage. You can enroll in a separate Medicare Part D plan if you want Medicare prescription drug coverage.
Not necessarily. Plan A has fewer standardized benefits than many other Medigap plans, but premiums vary by insurance company, location, age, and rating method. Compare actual premiums rather than assuming Plan A will be the least expensive option.
These Medicare.gov resources support the standardized benefit information and 2026 cost figures used on this page.
Medicare Supplement premiums and available carriers vary by location. Compare Plan A alongside other standardized options based on the benefits you want, your budget, and the amount of out-of-pocket exposure you are comfortable keeping.
Request Medicare Supplement InformationSenior Healthcare Planning is an independent insurance agency that provides education, guidance, and enrollment assistance for Medicare-related insurance products, including Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Prescription Drug Plans. Senior Healthcare Planning is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. Medigap plan availability, premiums, underwriting rules, and consumer protections can vary by state and insurance company.