Medical and healthcare expenses can take a toll at the most difficult times. Medical care needs become a part of the daily life after an age. If you’re 65, the government of the US has just the right kind of health insurance plan for you.
Medicare A is one of the four parts of the Medicare Plan and it covers inpatient hospital care and skilled nursing care of formally admitted patients. It also covers home health care and hospice services.
What is Medicare and Medicare Part A?
Medicare is a government national healthcare Insurance program in the United States. Medicare is administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This is a government federal health insurance program for seniors 65 years and older, younger people with disabilities, and patients with end-stage renal disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diseases.
Medicare A is one of the four parts of the Medicare Plan and it covers inpatient hospital care and skilled nursing care of formally admitted patients. It also covers home health care and hospice services.
What is Original Medicare and how does it differ from Medicare Advantage plans?
Original Medicare is a government health insurance program that has four plans – A, B, C, & D. Original Medicare covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing care, outpatient services, and preventative care under its Plan A and Plan B.
Medicare Advantage Plan, on the other hand, covers both Part A and Part B healthcare services of the Original Medicare. It may also cover prescription drugs of the Original care part D.
What does Medicare Part A cover?
Medicare A is one of the four parts of the Medicare Plan and it covers inpatient hospital care and skilled nursing care of formally admitted patients. It also covers home health care and hospice services.
What are the different types of care that Medicare Part A covers?
Medicare Part A covers the following Medical health care:
- Inpatient hospital care
- Skilled nursing facility care
- Hospice care
- Home health care
How does Part A cover hospital insurance, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health care?
Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health care. When you opt for Part A, Medicare pays for most of these services except expenses like deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments. Consequently, the amount that Medicare pays is less than the total bill. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Medicare pays for up to 80% of your total hospital and medical care bill.
Who is eligible for Medicare Part A and what are the requirements?
To be eligible to get Medicare Part A, you need to be
- 65 years or older
- You or your spouse must have paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years
- You are a U.S. resident
- You are under 65 and have a disability that qualifies you for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for at least 24 months
- You have end-stage renal disease (ESRD) (No age limit criteria for this condition)
- You have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) aka Lou Gehrig’s disease (No age limit criteria for this condition)
How do I enroll in Medicare Part A?
To enroll in Medicare Part A:
- First and foremost, check your age eligibility. You must be 65 years or older to get Medicare health insurance. Also, check other eligibility mentioned in the above section.
- Second, choose your enrollment period. It can be the initial enrollment perio7-montht is a 7-month period starting from 3 months before your 65th birthday and ending 3 months after that. You can also register in the general enrollment period, which lies between January 1 to March 31, annually. Lastly, you can enroll in a special enrollment period which is when you lose your employer-based health coverage and ends eight months later.
- You can apply for Medicare Part A via online directories, phone, or visiting in-person. For online enrollment, visit the official social security website. For enrollment through phone, dial 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Or personally visit your local Social Security office for in-person enrollment.
- Keep your personal information ready such as your name, date of birth, Social Security number, and proof of citizenship or legal residency.
- Once your application is accepted, you’ll receive your Medicare card via mail within a few weeks and your coverage will start.
How much does Medicare Part A cost?
$0 if you fall under “premium-free Part A” that is when you or your spouse has paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years.
If you do not fall under the “Premium-free part A”, the part A premium charges can be anywhere between $278 or $506 each month, depending on your Medicare tax history.
What are the different ways to pay for Medicare Part A?
There are four ways to pay for Medicare Part A:
- Pay online through your secure Medicare account. Log into your account and pay manually via credit card, or debit card, from your checking or savings account.
- Let Medicare deduct your premium payment automatically from your checking or savings account monthly through Medicare Easy Pay.
- Pay from your savings or checking account through your bank’s online bill payment service.
- Mail your payment to Medicare by check, money order, credit card, or debit card. Include your filled-up payment coupon at the bottom of your bill with the payment. Make sure to sign it too.
What are the out-of-pocket costs for Medicare Part A?
The out-of-pocket costs for Medicare Part A are:
- Co-payments
- Deductibles
- Premiums (Only If you or your Spouse have not paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years)
What are the different types of supplemental insurance that can help cover the costs of Medicare Part A?
There are two ways you can cover your Medicare Part A cost:
- Medigap: Medigap, the same as Medicare Supplement Insurance, is a health insurance plan provided by private companies to cover costs that are not covered by an Original Medicare plan, such as deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. You can go for Medigap to cover the rest of the expenses that the Original Medicare does not cover.
- Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C): A Medicare Advantage Plan or Part C covers medical and health care costs that both Part A and Part B cover. This insurance is provided by the private companies who are in contract with Medicare. It may also offer extra benefits such as vision, dental, hearing, and prescription drug coverage. Some Medicare Part C insurers might also cover out-of-pocket expenses that the original Medicare does not cover.
How do Medicare supplement insurance and Medicare Part B, C, and D relate to Medicare Part A coverage?
Medicare supplement insurance, Medicare parts B, C, and, D relate to part A coverage in the following ways:
- Medicare Supplement Insurance: Medicare supplement Insurance aka Medigap covers the medical and health care costs (Part A, Part B, and often Part D) that the original Medicare does not cover such as deductibles, co-insurance, and copayments. So, if you have Medicare Part A (and/or Part B), you can enroll for Medigap and get the rest of your medical expenses covered through Medigap.
- Medicare Part B: Medicare Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient services, preventive care, and durable medical equipment. These services are different from the services that part A covers. Together Medicare Part A and Part B cover the major medical and healthcare expenses.
- Medicare Part C: Medicare Part C or medicare advantage plan is the health insurance provided by private companies in contract with the original Medicare. This plan includes both Part A and Part B benefits, and may also offer extra benefits such as vision, dental, hearing, and prescription drug coverage.
- Medicare Part D: Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs. It is provided by private companies.
