Medicare Part A is the hospital insurance portion of Medicare. It covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing care, some home health care services, and hospice care. Part A does not cover prescription drugs, but it does cover other inpatient services such as laboratory tests, x-rays, and surgery. Part A is usually available at no extra cost to individuals who have worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. For those who have not paid into Medicare, Part A can be purchased through private insurance companies.