What Is medicare Part A?
Medicare Part A
Medicare Part A is your hospital coverage. It is going to help pay for your inpatient care while you are in the hospital. Generally, Part A will cover your hospital care, limited home health care services, skilled nursing facilities and hospice care. Medicare Part B will pay for all of your other medical services that are not for inpatient care. Most people have both of these parts and while they pay for some of your costs they don’t pay for all the costs. A Medicare supplement plan helps cover some of the steep costs that you would otherwise pay with Part A. Below we will go over those costs, what is covered and how you enroll into Part A. For more information you can call 866-319-5886 and we will answer any questions you may have.
What does Medicare Part A Cover?
Most of the time we call Part A the hospitalization coverage part of Medicare but it covers more than just your room and board during an inpatient stay. If you are uncertain if what you need is going to be covered you can ask your doctor and they will let you know if they think it will be covered for your situation. You can always call an agent if you are unsure if you will have coverage for your situation.
Skilled nursing, home health care and hospice care are also covered under Part A. There are certain restrictions, requirements and circumstances that will be taken into consideration to determine if your costs will be covered.
Medicare Part A and Inpatient Care
Medicare Part A covers your inpatient care in a hospital and some nursing facilities and also covers your room and board during your stay. It will cover a semi-private room, meals and drugs that are part of your inpatient treatment as well as other hospital services and supplies.
Inpatient and mental health care in a psychiatric hospital are limited to 190 days in a lifetime.
The following are hospitals where you can get inpatient care:
- Acute care hospitals
- Critical access hospitals
- Inpatient rehabilitation facilities
- Inpatient care as part of a qualifying clinical research study
- Long-term care hospitals
- Mental Health Care
There are some things that are not covered by Part A such as long-term care, like extended stays in a nursing home and if you needed to have blood, you will be required to purchase the first three pints of blood. There are Medicare supplements that will help cover this cost. Any personal hygiene products you need are also not covered by Part A or any other personally desired items that are not medically necessary. If you are not sure if something will be covered you should get in touch with an agent to go over your questions.
Medicare Part A Costs
Most people will be able to get their Medicare Part A at no monthly cost. The reason for this is that you have already paid for it through you taxes. Anyone who has worked for 10 years in the United States has already paid their share and will not have to pay a monthly premium for Part A. For everyone else that does not have this work history can purchase Medicare Part A for a monthly premium and can be purchased. If you have worked less than 30 quarters the premium standard will be $437 and if you have worked between 30 and 39 quarters the premium standard is $240.
The deductible for an inpatient stay is $1,364 per benefit period.
After you have met your deductible, you will have coinsurance for each benefit period as well:
- $0 coinsurance for days 1-60
- $341 per day for days 61-90
- Days 91 and beyond: $682 coinsurance per each “lifetime reserve day” after day 90 for each benefit period (up to 60 days over your lifetime)
Medicare Part A Enrollment
People who are already receiving Social Security income benefits will be automatically enrolled into Medicare Part A about 2-3 months before the month they turn 65.
Your Medicare card will show up in the mail and it will look like junk mail. It will be a red, white and blue card printed out on heavy card stock material. Feel free to laminate it so that is doesn’t get damaged.
Anyone who is not getting Social Security income benefits or benefits from Railroad Retirement will need to be proactive about getting themselves signed up for Part A. You can sign up on the Social Security website. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to set up an in person meeting at your local office.
Have more questions about Medicare Part A?
Give us a call at 1-866-319-5886 if you have more questions about Part A. We will be happy to answer your questions and help you find a plan to help cover those expensive costs. You can also fill out the form below if you would like to get more information by email or would like a call from us at a certain time.