Does Medicare Part A cover outpatient hospital services?

Asked by: Dr. Alba O'Kon  |  Last update: December 6, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (22 votes)

While you may receive services similar to those you would receive as an inpatient, keep in mind that you are covered by Part B when you are an outpatient, not Part A. After meeting your Part B deductible ($257 in 2025), you pay a copayment for care received in outpatient hospital settings. You may have multiple copays.

Does Medicare Part A cover outpatient procedures?

While Medicare covers outpatient procedures deemed medically necessary by a qualified healthcare provider, that coverage is courtesy of Part B, not Part A. Yes, Medicare will usually cover outpatient surgery. Outpatient surgery is available for some conditions and may lower your overall out-of-pocket costs.

Does Medicare Part A cover hospital visits?

Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care.

What exactly does Medicare Part A cover?

In general, Medicare Part A helps pay for inpatient care you get in hospitals, critical access hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. It also helps cover hospice care and some home health care.

Does Medicare Part A pay 100% of your hospital stay?

Once you meet your deductible, Part A will pay for days 1–60 that you are in the hospital. For days 61–90, you will pay a coinsurance for each day. If you need to stay in the hospital for longer than 90 days, you can use up to 60 lifetime reserve days. These are extra days of Medicare coverage for long hospital stays.

What Does Medicare Part A Cover?

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Which Medicare part covers outpatient charges?

Medicare Part B covers physicians' services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment, and certain other medical and health services not covered by Medicare Part A.

What Medicare Part A does not cover?

Generally, most vision, dental and hearing services are not covered by Medicare Parts A and B. Other services not covered by Medicare Parts A and B include: Routine physical exams. Cosmetic surgery.

Does Medicare Part A pay for doctors in the hospital?

Medicare Part A will typically cover the costs of hospital stays, surgeries, and care in a skilled nursing facility, while Part B covers doctor visits, durable medical equipment, and preventative services.

What is the three-day rule for Medicare?

A qualifying inpatient hospital stay means you've been a hospital inpatient for at least 3 days in a row (counting the day you were admitted as an inpatient, but not counting the day of your discharge). Medicare will only cover care you get in a SNF if you first have a “qualifying inpatient hospital stay.”

Do all hospitals accept Medicare Part A?

Not all hospitals accept Medicare, but luckily, the vast majority of hospitals do. Generally, the hospitals that do not accept Medicare are Veterans Affairs and active military hospitals (they operate with VA and military benefits instead), though there are a few other exceptions nationwide.

Does Medicare Part B cover 100%?

With Medicare Part B, you pay 20 percent of the cost for the services you use. So if your doctor charges $100 for a visit, then you are responsible for paying $20 and Part B pays $80. There is no limit on Part B coinsurance costs, which could add up if you have a lot of doctor visits or need other services.

Do you have to pay your copay at the ER?

But the ER copay is really a fee.

The good news, though, is that if you are admitted to the hospital, this “copay” (fee) is waived. To cut to the chase, there is not a more expensive place to receive medical care than in an American hospital emergency room.

Does Medicare Part A cover ER visits?

ER visits are considered outpatient stays, and Medicare Part A does not cover outpatient stays. However, if you're formally admitted to the hospital with a doctor's order, Part A will help pay for your inpatient hospital stay.

What are the 6 things Medicare doesn't cover?

Some of the items and services Medicare doesn't cover include:
  • Eye exams (for prescription eyeglasses)
  • Long-term care.
  • Cosmetic surgery.
  • Massage therapy.
  • Routine physical exams.
  • Hearing aids and exams for fitting them.

What part of the Medicare program pays for outpatient procedures and doctors visits?

Part B helps cover: Services from doctors and other health care providers. Outpatient care. Home health care.

Does Medicare Part A pay 100% of hospital stay?

After you pay the Part A deductible, Medicare pays the full cost of covered hospital services for the first 60 days of each benefit period when you're an inpatient, which means you're admitted to the hospital and not for observational care. Part A also pays a portion of the costs for longer hospital stays.

Is Medicare Part A free at age 65?

Premium-Free Medicare Part A Based on Age

To be eligible for premium-free Part A on the basis of age: A person must be age 65 or older; and. Be eligible for monthly Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) cash benefits.

Which of the following is not provided under part A of Medicare?

Medicare Part A primarily covers inpatient care services, including hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, home health care, and hospice care. It does not include coverage for outpatient medical facility services, which are part of Medicare Part B. Thus, the correct option is B. An outpatient medical facility.

What are 3 services not covered by Medicare?

We don't cover these routine items and services: Routine or annual physical checkups (visit Medicare Wellness Visits to learn about exceptions). exams required by third parties, like insurance companies, businesses, or government agencies. Eye exams for prescribing, fitting, or changing eyeglasses.

Why are people leaving Medicare Advantage plans?

Key takeaways: People leave Medicare Advantage plans because out-of-pocket costs vary between plans, network restrictions can cause frustration, prior authorization requests can delay care, and it can be difficult to use the additional benefits they provide.

Does Medicare Part A pay for doctor visits?

Does Original Medicare cover all doctor visits? Original Medicare is made up of Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). Generally, Part B covers doctor visits – even when you're in the hospital, where a lot of your care is covered under Part A. A deductible and/or coinsurance amount may apply.

Is hospital outpatient care covered by Medicare?

Services for People with Medicare Part B

Part B pays for many of the outpatient services you get in hospitals, like X-rays and emergency department visits.

Does everyone have to pay $170 a month for Medicare?

Most people pay no premiums for Part A. For Medicare Part B in 2025, most beneficiaries will pay $185 per month. Certain factors may require you to pay more or less than the standard Medicare Part B premium in 2025.

Why is Social Security no longer paying Medicare Part B?

There could be several reasons why Social Security stopped withholding your Medicare Part B premium. One common reason is that your income has exceeded the threshold for premium assistance. Another reason could be that there was a mistake or error in your records.