A Explanation of Medicare Part A

By Bradley Lucas


Part A of Medicare covers qualified inpatient care that is received in a hospital. Medicare Part A will also pay for limited skilled nursing facility care, as well as for some types of home health care and hospice services.

The coverage provided through Medicare Part A would provide of the following:

Hospital - Coverage includes cost of a semi-private room as an inpatient at a hospital, nursing services, and certain other medical supplies and equipment and hospital services. All services are paid for 100% after the insured has paid a $1,184 out of pocket deductible.Blood - Part A of Medicare covers 100% of the cost of blood transfusions after the first three pints are paid for by the insured.

Skilled Nursing Facility Care - Skilled nursing facility benefits provided by Part A includes the cost of a room (semi-private), as well as the insured's meals. Medicare Part A also covers skilled nursing and rehabilitative services, and certain other medically necessary skilled nursing facility services and supplies. Medicare will not cover long term nursing facility stays, and coverage ends after a 20 day period. Home Health Care Services - Home health services are covered by Medicare Part A and/or Medicare part B but are limited to reasonable and medically required part-time or intermittent home health aide services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology that is ordered by a physician and is provided by a Medicare approved home health agency. Medicare will pay up to 100% of all medically required home healthcare costs

Hospice Care - Part A of Medicare will cover many medications that are used for symptom control and relief of pain in a hospice care situations. It may cover most medical and support services from a Medicare certified hospice agency. Medicare will cover up to 95% of the cost of hospice care services.

Medicare Part A coverage's not provided:

Even though Medicare Part A covers numerous health care expenses, there are still many holes in the coverage. For example, Part A does not offer coverage for private duty nursing. Also, Medicare Part A does not provide coverage for inpatient mental health care in a psychiatric hospital for more than 190 days in an insured's lifetime. Medicare Part A will also not cover long-term care that is considered to be "custodial" or basic in nature, meaning that assistance with basic daily living activities such as dressing and bathing are not covered unless they are part of skilled care services.

While Medicare may not cover all of your needs completely, Medicare supplement plans are available for purchase to help cover the cost of other health care services you might need.

How Are Medicare Part A Benefits Calculated?

Medicare Part A calculates its coverage in terms of benefit periods and reserve days. A benefit period is considered to have begun on the day that a Medicare Part A insured enters the hospital. The insured's benefit period will end when the enrolled has been home from the hospital for at least 60 consecutive days.

Other than hospice care benefits, a Medicare Part A provides unlimited benefit periods. How do I Qualify for Medicare Part A?

An individual who is diagnosed with end state renal disease and who requires kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant is eligible to enroll in Medicare Part A.

How to Enroll in Part A of Medicare

If a person has not been automatically enrolled, they should enroll in Medicare Part A through their local Social Security office.

All other Medicare Part A enrollees must submit an enrollment application during an "open enrollment" period. Can You Enroll in Medicare Part A If You Have Other Health Insurance Coverage?

If a person has other health insurance, they can also receive Medicare Part A. The primary payer will usually pay the claim up to its coverage limits. Then, the secondary payer will make a payment on the amount that the primary insurer did not pay, if any.

An example, if a insured filed a claim through their primary health insurance carrier and the claim is not paid in a timely manner, the provider may bill Medicare. What is the cost for Medicare Part A?

Most people enrolling in Medicare Part A do not pay a monthly premium. This is true if an individual and/or their spouse paid Medicare taxes while they were gainfully employed. However, if, an individual is not eligible for zero premium Medicare Part A, they should be able to buy this coverage if they meet one of the following conditions:

They are over age 65, are entitled to or are enrolling in Medicare Part B, and they meet United States residency or citizenship requirements

They're under the age of 65 and disabled and their no premium Medicare Part A coverage ended because the individual has returned to their employment.

If a person chooses to buy Medicare Part B, they must also be enrolled in Medicare Part A.




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