What are the costs and coverage of Medicare Part A

Medicare is a federal health insurance program that provides coverage to individuals who are 65 years of age or older, as well as certain younger individuals with disabilities. Medicare coverage is divided into several parts, each covering different aspects of healthcare. In this article, we will focus on Medicare Part A, which is the hospital insurance portion of Medicare. We will explore what Medicare Part A covers, what it costs, and other important details you need to know.

Understanding Medicare Part A

Medicare Part A is designed to cover hospital care and related services. It is typically available without a premium for most people who qualify for Medicare. Eligibility for premium-free Part A is determined by your work history or your spouse’s work history. If you or your spouse have worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (or 40 quarters), you will likely qualify for premium-free Part A. However, if you don’t qualify for premium-free coverage, you may still be eligible to buy Part A coverage.

Medicare Part A coverage extends to various healthcare services provided in different settings, including inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health services. Let’s dive into each of these areas to understand what is covered and what costs may be involved.

Inpatient hospital care

One of the primary benefits of Medicare Part A is its coverage of inpatient hospital care. This includes hospital services that you receive when you’re admitted to a hospital on a doctor’s orders. It covers expenses such as semi-private rooms, meals, general nursing, and drugs for inpatient treatments. Medicare Part A provides coverage for up to 190 days over your lifetime for inpatient hospital care. However, it’s important to note that if you require admittance to a psychiatric hospital for mental health treatment, coverage falls under Part A, but you have a limit of fewer days of coverage.

Most hospitals accept Medicare, which means you can use your Part A coverage for inpatient hospital care in various facilities, including acute care hospitals, critical access hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, inpatient psychiatric facilities, long-term care hospitals, and inpatient care as part of a qualifying clinical research study.

Skilled nursing facility care

Medicare Part A also covers short-term care at certified skilled nursing facilities following a qualifying inpatient hospital stay of at least three days. Skilled nursing facility care includes a range of services, such as a semi-private room, meals, skilled nursing care, and physical and occupational therapy when needed. Other services needed for your wellness care, including speech-language pathology services, medical social services, medications, and medical supplies and equipment used in the facility, are also covered.

It’s important to note that while Part A covers most services needed during your stay at a skilled nursing facility, there may be additional services recommended by your medical team that fall outside the scope of Part A coverage. In such cases, you would be responsible for the costs of those services.

Hospice benefits

Hospice care is provided to individuals who are terminally ill and focuses on providing support, pain management, and symptom relief. Medicare Part A covers all costs associated with hospice care, including a wide range of support care, pain medications, and symptom management. It also includes coverage for grief and loss counseling for you and your family, as well as respite care for your main caregiver. Whether you’re using Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare Part A covers the full range of hospice care and associated costs. You would need to coordinate with your specific insurance plan for entry into hospice.

Home health services

Medicare Part A also provides coverage for certain home health care services that can be provided if you are considered homebound. To qualify for home health services, a doctor or other health care provider must approve your situation, and you must use a Medicare-certified agency. Covered services include part-time skilled nursing and home health aide care, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology services, medical social services, and injectable osteoporosis drugs for women, among other things.

It’s important to note that Medicare does not pay for 24-hour-a-day care at home, meal delivery, homemaker services, or personal care like bathing or dressing if those are the only care services you need. It’s essential to carefully review the services covered under Part A and understand your responsibilities and potential out-of-pocket costs.

How much does Medicare Part A cost?

The cost of Medicare Part A depends on various factors, including your work and Medicare tax history. If you or your spouse have worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (or 40 quarters), you typically qualify for premium-free Part A coverage. This means you won’t have to pay a monthly premium for Part A.

However, if you don’t qualify for premium-free Part A, you may still be able to buy Part A coverage. The premium for Part A can vary based on your work and Medicare tax history. In 2023, the monthly premium for Part A can be as high as $506, depending on your circumstances.

In addition to the premium, there are also other costs associated with Medicare Part A. These costs can include deductibles and coinsurance for hospital stays and skilled nursing facility care. Here is a breakdown of the costs you may be responsible for:

Inpatient Hospital Care:

• $1,600 deductible for each benefit period
• $0 coinsurance per day for days 1-60 of each benefit period
• $400 coinsurance per day for days 61-90 of each benefit period
• $800 coinsurance per day for days 91 and beyond of each benefit period, up to your total lifetime reserve days (60 days over your lifetime)
• All costs after exceeding lifetime reserve days

Skilled Nursing Facility Care:

• $0 coinsurance per day for days 1-20 for each benefit period
• Up to $200 coinsurance per day for days 21-100 of each benefit period
• All costs for days 101 and beyond

Hospice Care:

• $0 for hospice care
• $5 or less for copayments on prescription drugs for pain relief or symptom relief at home
• 5% of the Medicare-approved amount for occasional inpatient respite care, in some cases

Home Health Services:

• $0 for covered home health services
• 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for certain medical equipment, such as wheelchairs and walkers

It’s important to note that these costs are your share of the expenses if you don’t have supplemental insurance, such as Medigap plans, that cover these deductibles and coinsurance charges. Depending on your specific Medigap plan or Medicare Advantage policy, these costs may be covered by that insurance.

Medicare Part A eligibility

To be eligible for Medicare Part A, you must meet certain requirements. Generally, you’re eligible for Part A if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You are age 65 or older
• You have received disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board for 24 months
• You receive disability benefits because you have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease
• You have end-stage renal disease and meet certain requirements

If you meet any of these eligibility criteria, you can enroll in Medicare Part A. The enrollment process for Part A is typically automatic if you’re already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits before turning 65. If you’re not receiving these benefits, you can separately enroll in Part A, Part B, or both by applying on the Social Security Administration’s website.

It’s important to understand the different parts of Medicare and what they cover. In addition to Part A, there are also Medicare Part B (medical insurance), Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage), Medicare Part D (prescription drug plan), and Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap). Each part provides different types of coverage and may be suited to different individuals’ needs.

Frequently asked questions

Does it make sense to enroll in Medicare Part A and postpone the rest?

For individuals who still receive health care coverage from a large employer, enrolling in Part A if you qualify for premium-free coverage and delaying the rest until retirement might seem like a smart idea. However, there are important caveats to consider. If you have an employer plan that allows you to contribute to a health savings account (HSA), enrolling in Part A can restrict your ability to make contributions to your HSA. It’s important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of enrolling in Medicare Part A based on your specific situation and future healthcare needs.

Does Medicare pay 100% of Part A?

While Medicare Part A covers a share of your eligible medical costs, it doesn’t cover everything. You are still responsible for some out-of-pocket costs unless you have supplemental insurance that covers them. For example, if you require hospital care, you will need to pay a deductible for each benefit period, and there may be coinsurance costs depending on the length of your stay. It’s important to review your specific Medicare plan and any supplemental coverage you have to understand your cost-sharing responsibilities.

When should I enroll in Medicare Part A?

If you’re already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits before turning 65, you will be automatically enrolled in Original Medicare, which includes both Medicare Part A and Part B coverage. If you are not receiving these benefits, you can separately enroll in Part A, Part B, or both during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). The IEP is a seven-month period that starts three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after your birthday month. If you miss your initial enrollment period, you can sign up during the General Enrollment Period, which runs from January 1st to March 31st each year.

Conclusion

Medicare Part A provides essential coverage for hospital care and related services. It is a key component of the Medicare program and plays a significant role in providing healthcare coverage for individuals who qualify. Understanding what Medicare Part A covers and what costs may be involved is crucial for making informed decisions about your healthcare. Whether you qualify for premium-free Part A or need to pay a premium, it’s important to review your specific circumstances and consider any supplemental insurance options to ensure you have the coverage you need.

Sources

• Medicare Part A: Coverage, Costs, FAQs – NerdWallet
• Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) Costs