Medicare Part A

You might hear some people refer to Medicare Part A insurance as Medicare hospital insurance. That’s because Part A is the portion of Original Medicare that will help you pay for inpatient care. In addition to hospital visits, Medicare Part A coverage includes benefits for skilled nursing, inpatient rehabilitation, physical therapy, and hospice care. Even though Medicare Part A can help you pay for inpatient services, it won’t completely protect you from medical bills.

What Medicare Part A Won’t Cover

Most Americans don’t have to pay a premium for Part A as they do for Medicare Part B. Part B is sometimes called Medicare medical insurance because it concentrates mostly on outpatient health care. With Part B, you would still be responsible for uncovered services, copays, and deductibles. In contrast to Medicare Part A coverage for inpatient care, Medicare Part B covers outpatient services and products. With only Medicare Part A, you won’t get visits to the doctor, durable medical equipment you take home, or lab tests covered. Part A plans typically only cover health care inside the United States and up to Medicare-approved amounts.

If you plan to travel outside the country, you probably won’t be covered. Part A has deductibles and coinsurance that you have to pay. Some examples include deductibles for hospital stays and daily coinsurance after 60 inpatient days. Part A typically only covers prescription medication you get while inside a hospital or other inpatient facility. Neither Part A nor Part B generally covers the kind of drugs you would get from a pharmacy and take home.

These gaps and limits to coverage can generate considerable expenses, so they make it difficult for retirees to plan for a secure financial future. Senior Services of Illinois helps individuals find Medicare insurance that can help them control and predict their costs for a more comfortable retirement.