Understanding Part a Coverage of Medicare

Medicare plans are offered by insurance companies and cover different services. Part A covers several types of stays in hospital facilities, but you may not be certain about exactly what's covered.

You can get Part A coverage if you are age 65 or older and have paid into Medicare for a period of time. There are some exceptions. If you think you might be eligible for Part A of Medicare, here's what you should know about its coverage.

Part A Covers Inpatient Hospital Care

Part A of Medicare covers inpatient hospital care, which is the care you receive when you are admitted to the hospital. This coverage includes a semi-private room, food, nursing care, and other hospital services. You will likely have to pay a deductible for this coverage.

Part A Covers a Stay in a Skilled Nursing Facility

This coverage is for people who need daily skilled nursing care or rehabilitation services after leaving the hospital. Part A will cover a stay in a skilled nursing facility for several months.

Part A Covers Hospice Care

Hospice care is for people who are terminally ill and have a life expectancy of six months or less. This can include in-home nursing care, pain relief medication, and other services.

You May Have to Pay a Part A Premium

If you did not pay into Medicare through your job, you may have to pay a monthly premium for Part A coverage. The premium is typically deducted from your Social Security benefits.

Part A Deductible and Coinsurance

You will have to pay a deductible for Part A services before coverage begins. After the deductible is met, you will typically have to pay coinsurance for covered services.

Coinsurance is a percentage of the cost of the service that you pay. For example, if your coinsurance is 20%, and a covered service costs $100, you would pay $20 and Medicare would pay the rest.

Part A Is Just One Component of a Comprehensive Medicare Plan

Part A is just one component of a comprehensive Medicare plan. You will likely need to enroll in additional coverage, such as Part B, to have complete coverage. For example, Part A of Medicare does not include your typical doctor's visits.

Learn More About Medicare

The best time to learn about Medicare is before you need to buy a plan. If you are approaching age 65 or already have a Medicare plan, it's important to understand how the program works and what your options are.

Find more information today by contacting a Medicare service in your area such as KC Medicare Helper.

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