Medicare Part A is one of the two parts of Original Medicare. It covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care.
Medicare Part A is funded by payroll taxes, so you don’t have to pay a monthly premium for it if you’ve worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. If you haven’t worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years, you may be able to get Part A premium-free if you’re married to someone who has.
If you don’t qualify for premium-free Part A, you may be able to get Part A at a reduced premium if you’re low-income.
Medicare Part A also has a deductible. The deductible for 2023 is $1,556. After you meet your deductible, you’ll pay 20% of the cost of covered services.
Here are some things that Medicare Part A covers:
- Inpatient hospital care: This includes care in a hospital, critical access hospital, or skilled nursing facility.
- Skilled nursing facility care: This includes care in a skilled nursing facility after you’ve been in a hospital for at least three days.
- Hospice care: This is care for people who are terminally ill and have less than six months to live.
- Some home health care: This includes care that you need at home after you’ve been in a hospital or skilled nursing facility.
Here are some things that Medicare Part A doesn’t cover:
- Most outpatient care: This includes care that you get at a doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital outpatient department.
- Prescription drugs: This includes prescription drugs that you take at home.
- Dental care: This includes routine dental care, such as cleanings and checkups.
- Vision care: This includes routine vision care, such as eye exams and glasses.
- Hearing aids: This includes hearing aids and hearing aid exams.
- Custodial care: This is care that is not medically necessary, such as help with bathing, dressing, and eating.
- Private-duty nursing: This is care that is provided by a nurse who is not employed by a hospital or nursing home.
- Ambulance services: This includes services that are not medically necessary, such as transportation to and from a doctor’s office.
If you need coverage for these services, you may want to consider getting a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medigap plan. Medicare Advantage plans are private health insurance plans that are designed to provide all the coverage of Original Medicare, plus additional benefits. Medigap plans are private health insurance plans that are designed to fill in the gaps in Original Medicare coverage.
If you’re not sure what coverage you need, you can talk to a Medicare counselor or your local Social Security office. They can help you understand your options and choose the plan that’s best for you.
Here are some tips for getting the most out of Medicare Part A:
- Enroll in Part A and Part B if you are eligible.
- Choose a Medicare Advantage plan or Medigap plan if you need coverage for services that Original Medicare doesn’t cover.
- Compare plans carefully before you enroll.
- Read your plan documents carefully so you know what is and isn’t covered.
- Keep track of your medical expenses so you can file claims and get reimbursed.
- Get help if you need it. There are many resources available to help you understand and use Medicare.
Here are some additional things to keep in mind about Medicare Part A:
- You can get Part A even if you have other health insurance, such as private health insurance or Medicaid.
- You can’t be denied Part A because of your health.
- You can’t be dropped from Part A if you get sick or your health changes.
- You can’t have your Part A benefits reduced because of your income.
Medicare Part A is an important part of Original Medicare. It can help you pay for some of the costs of inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care. If you’re eligible for Part A, it’s important to enroll so you can get the coverage you need.