What Does Medicare Assignment Mean?
Medicare assignment means a doctor, provider or supplier agrees to accept the Medicare-approved amount as full payment for a covered service.
Medicare Part A vs. Part B: What’s the Difference in 2026?
Last Modified: 10/05/2026 | Reviewed by Keith Armbrecht (NPN 634015)
Quick Summary
Medicare Part A primarily covers inpatient hospital and related institutional care, while Medicare Part B primarily covers doctors, outpatient healthcare, preventive services and medical equipment.
Together, Part A and Part B make up:
Original Medicare
Most people don’t pay a monthly premium for Part A, while most beneficiaries pay the standard $202.90 monthly Part B premium in 2026.
Key Facts
Part A vs. Part B at a Glance
Medicare Part A
Known as: Hospital Insurance
Primarily covers:
- Inpatient hospital care
- Qualifying skilled nursing facility care
- Hospice
- Certain home health services
2026 premium:
$0 for most beneficiaries
2026 inpatient hospital deductible:
$1,736 per benefit period
Medicare Part B
Known as: Medical Insurance
Primarily covers:
- Doctors
- Specialists
- Outpatient care
- Preventive services
- Durable medical equipment
- Certain home health services
- Certain medications under specific circumstances
2026 standard premium:
$202.90/month
2026 annual deductible:
$283
A Simple Hospital Example
Suppose you’re admitted to the hospital as an inpatient.
Part A
Generally handles the hospital facility portion of your qualifying inpatient stay.
Part B
Generally handles physician services you receive during that hospital stay.
This is why someone can receive both Part A and Part B charges during one hospitalization.
A Simple Doctor Example
You visit a cardiologist in an outpatient setting.
That generally falls under:
Medicare Part B
not Part A.
Part A Costs
Most people pay no monthly premium because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes long enough.
But Part A can still have substantial cost sharing.
The 2026 inpatient hospital deductible is:
$1,736 per benefit period
Part B Costs
The 2026 standard monthly premium is:
$202.90
The annual deductible is:
$283
After the deductible, you commonly pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for many Part B services.
Do You Need Both?
For most people using Original Medicare as their primary Medicare coverage, having both Part A and Part B provides the core hospital and medical coverage they need.
You also generally need both Part A and Part B to purchase Medigap.
Video Explanation from Keith
Medicare Part A vs. Part B Explained
Keith's Take
The easiest way to remember this is:
Part A = primarily hospital
Part B = primarily medical
That’s not perfect because Medicare has exceptions and overlapping situations, but it’s a good starting point.
Where people get surprised is a hospital stay.
They think:
“I’m in the hospital, so everything is Part A.”
Not necessarily.
The hospital facility can be Part A while the physicians treating you are billing under Part B.
Keith Armbrecht
Medicare on Video
Frequently Asked Questions About Part A vs. Part B
Q. Is Part A hospital insurance?
A. Yes.
Q. Is Part B medical insurance?
A. Yes.
Q. Does Part A cover doctors?
A. Physician services are generally covered under Part B, even when you're an inpatient.
Q. Does Part B cover outpatient care?
A. Yes.
Q. Which part covers skilled nursing?
A. Qualifying skilled nursing facility care falls under Part A.
Q. Which part covers medical equipment?
A. Part B generally covers qualifying durable medical equipment.
Q. Is Part A free?
A. Most people pay no monthly premium, but deductibles and coinsurance still apply.
Q. Is Part B free?
A. No. The standard premium is $202.90 per month in 2026.
Q. Do I need both for Medigap?
A. Generally yes.
Official Government Sources
Explore Related Guides
Does Medicare Cover Durable Medical Equipment?
Medicare Part B covers medically necessary durable medical equipment, or DME, when prescribed for use in your home and Medicare’s requirements are met.
