Medicare Part A
Part A Is Your Hospitalization Coverage
Think of Medicare Part A as your “room and board” in the hospital. At a high level, Part A covers your stay in a medical facility AND the related services while you’re in that setting.
For most people, Part A won’t cost a dime in retirement. This would be the case if you worked at least 10 years in the United States and paid Medicare taxes during that time. If you didn’t work or pay taxes — but your spouse did — you may still qualify for coverage.
What Does Part A Cover?
It covers:
- Inpatient hospital care
- Inpatient rehabilitation facilities
- Long-term care hospitals
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Home health care services
- Hospice care
Medicare Part A Hospital Coverage
What's Covered for Inpatient Stays?
- Medications
- Lab services
- Regular meals
- Hospice care*
- Skilled nursing*
- Home health care*
- Semi-private room*
*may be outside but related to your hospital stay.
You can visit http://www.medicare.gov/coverage and search whether a service is covered by Medicare.
What Does Medicare Part A Cost?
If you’ve worked and paid FICA taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters) in the U.S., you pay NO premium for Part A. Some people must pay a premium depending on their income.
You may have to pay copays or a deductible for any covered services — but you can apply for help if you cannot pay. In addition to a $1,484 deductible for each benefit period, you’ll be responsible for these costs for 2021:
- $0 coinsurance for the first 60 days of hospitalization
- $371 coinsurance per day for hospitalization days 61–90
- $742 coinsurance per day for hospitalization day 91 and beyond for every lifetime reserve day
- All expenses beyond lifetime reserve days
- $185.50 per day for 21–100 days of approved skilled nursing facility care
- All expenses after 101 days of approved skilled nursing facility care
There’s no charge for hospice care, and there’s no charge for the first 20 days of approved skilled nursing facility care.
Get the right coverage at the right price.
Consider a Medicare Supplement Plan
Did you know that most Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans will cover the deductibles and coinsurance related to Part A?
A Medigap policy may also provide an extra 365 days of coverage in a hospital or medical facility. If you’re looking to add a Medicare Supplement plan to your Original Medicare, contact us at Oak Haven Insurance Agency.
Do You Need to Sign Up?
Some folks get Medicare Part A automatically and others have to sign up for it. It usually depends on whether you’re getting Social Security benefits.
If you aren’t receiving benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) at least four months before turning 65, you’ll have to sign up with Social Security to get Part A.
Important note: People who don’t qualify for premium-free Part A will need to enroll in Medicare Part B to buy Part A.
What Else You Should Know
If you’re under 65 and have a disability, you automatically get Parts A and B after you get ONE of the following:
- Disability benefits from Social Security for two years
- Certain disability benefits from the RRB for two years
If you have ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) — aka Lou Gehrig’s disease — you automatically get Parts A and B the month your disability benefits start.
If you have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), enrolling in Medicare is your decision. You may be eligible because of ESRD, which would mean you can sign up for Part A.
To learn more about the parts of Medicare, continue browsing our site or give us a call.
