U.S. · Medicare Part A
Medicare benefit period days, priced for 2026.
Enter the days of a hospital stay to see the Part A deductible, daily coinsurance and lifetime reserve days.
In 2026 a hospital benefit period costs a $1,736 deductible, then $0 for days 1 to 60, $434 a day for days 61 to 90, and $868 a day for up to 60 lifetime reserve days. After that you pay all costs. A benefit period ends once you have been out of a hospital or skilled nursing facility for 60 days in a row, and a new stay starts a new period with a new deductible.
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Result
2026 inpatient hospital cost sharing
| Hospital days in a benefit period | You pay (2026) |
|---|---|
| 1–60 | $0 a day after the $1,736 deductible |
| 61–90 | $434 a day |
| 91–150 | $868 a day, using lifetime reserve days |
| After reserve days | All costs |
Worked example: a 100-day stay
- Deductible: $1,736
- Days 61–90: 30 days × $434 = $13,020
- Days 91–100: 10 reserve days × $868 = $8,680
Total: $23,436, and 10 of your 60 lifetime reserve days are gone for good.
How a benefit period starts and ends
The first benefit period begins the day you are first admitted as an inpatient, and a new one begins with any later inpatient stay after the previous period has ended. A period ends when you have not been an inpatient of a hospital, critical access hospital or skilled nursing facility (receiving skilled care) for at least 60 consecutive days. There is no limit on benefit periods in a year, so the deductible can apply more than once (42 CFR 409.60).
Reserve days and mental health limits
Lifetime reserve days are 60 extra days across your whole life; once used they do not renew. Inpatient care in a freestanding psychiatric hospital is capped at 190 days in a lifetime, though that cap does not apply to a certified psychiatric unit inside a general hospital.
Limits of this estimate
This covers Part A cost sharing in Original Medicare for calendar year 2026. Doctor charges under Part B, Medigap, Medicaid and Advantage plans are separate.
Sources
Primary sources opened and checked on November 2, 2026. This page has no affiliation with any agency; confirm with the agency before you rely on an amount or date.
- Medicare.gov, Inpatient hospital care. Read November 2, 2026.
- Federal Register, CY 2026 Inpatient Hospital Deductible and Hospital and Extended Care Services Coinsurance Amounts (Nov. 19, 2025). Read November 2, 2026.
- eCFR, 42 CFR 409.60 Benefit periods. Read November 2, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Medicare benefit period?
It starts the day you are admitted as an inpatient and ends when you have gone at least 60 days in a row without inpatient hospital or skilled nursing facility care.
How much is the Medicare hospital deductible in 2026?
$1,736 for each inpatient benefit period.
What do I pay for hospital days 61 to 90?
$434 a day in 2026.
What are lifetime reserve days?
60 extra days Medicare pays for after day 90 at $868 a day in 2026. They can be used only once in your life.
Can I pay the deductible twice in one year?
Yes. Each new benefit period has its own deductible and there is no limit on how many you can have in a year.
Not legal, financial or benefits advice
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