What is Medicare Part A?

Medicare Part A is the original medicare plan and it provides hospital insurance to people aged 65 and over, as well as to those who meet special criteria for early retirement. Part A runs on a fee-for-service model. With Medicare Part A doctors are limited in what they can charge for their services. If you or your spouse paid into Medicare while working you will NOT have to pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part A coverage in most instances. You will also qualify to have the option of adding Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D plans. Note that you will automatically be enrolled into Medicare Part A when you turn 65 unless you choose a Medicare Advantage plan option instead.

Don’t worry if you didn’t pay Medicare taxes, you can still buy Medicare Part A if you did not pay Medicare taxes prior to retirement if you are 65 years old and a U.S. citizen. You can also qualify if you’re under 65, disabled, and lost your premium-free Medicare Part A coverage by going back to work. In most cases when you opt to buy the original medicare plan coverage, you will also be required to purchase Medicare Part B and pay both services’ premiums. For those with limited incomes, many states provide financial assistance for Medicare Part A and B coverage.

What does Medicare Part A Cover?

Medicare hospital insurance covers many different medically-necessary services such as: hospital stays(minimum of 3 days), as long as you do not require long term or custodial care. You also receive semi-private rooms, hospital services and supplies, emergency room services, drugs that are prescribed for treatments, visits to the doctor. Anesthesia, chemotherapy, inpatient dialysis and other such hospital services are covered by Medicare Part A if they are deemed medically necessary. However, personal care items and private rooms are not covered in Medicare Part A.

Medicare Part A also covers blood transfusions as long as the hospital receives blood from a blood bank without any charge, you will pay nothing for the blood. If the hospital needs to purchase blood, you will be required to pay for the blood, or you can have a family member donate blood. This service also covers other blood work done at the hospital besides transfusions.

Medicare Part A also covers hospital and home health services. If you are suffering from a terminal illness and you have less than 6 months to live, as confirmed by a doctor, your hospice care will be covered by Medicare(this includes: pain relief, grief counseling, and other services). You will need a doctor’s order to receive access to a skilled nursing facility, physical therapy, or home health(from a Medicare certified home health agency). To receive home health you must be home-bound in order to receive this service, and it is limited to medically necessary care only.

Medicare Part A recipients are provided with semi-private rooms and meals in hospitals and other nursing facilities. This does not include private nursing or private rooms, and unless medically necessary does not cover long term care. Televisions and telephone services are not covered if they incur additional charges.

Feel free to call us anytime if you have questions about Medicare Part A: 1 (866)866-7951.

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