Medicare enrollees face higher costs for hospital stays this year. Most do not pay a premium for Part A, which covers hospital care, but other expenses apply.
Each hospital admission requires an inpatient deductible. In 2025, that deductible was $1,676. It has increased to $1,736 for 2026.
The deductible may not cover the entire stay. Once a stay exceeds 60 days, daily coinsurance applies. For days 60 through 90, the daily coinsurance rate was $419 in 2025. This year, it is $434.
If a hospital stay goes beyond 90 days, lifetime reserve days are used. The daily rate for those is $868 in 2026, up from $838 last year.
Medigap supplemental insurance can help with these costs. It covers some out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare enrollees. Medigap typically pays the inpatient hospital deductible and coinsurance. It can also cover the cost of lifetime reserve days.
The best time to buy Medigap is during the initial enrollment window. This lasts six months and starts the month you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare Part B. During that period, insurers cannot deny coverage for pre-existing conditions and must offer their best plan rates.
If that window has passed, coverage may still be available at a reasonable rate depending on health status. Planning for hospital costs is important, as a single stay could be financially significant without Medigap.