Medicare Part A coverage is hospitalization coverage, but it covers more than regular hospitalization.
What Medicare Part A Covers
Medicare Part A covers:
- Hospitalization
- Skilled Nursing Facility care
- Hospice care
- Home Health Services
How Part A Works
Medicare Part A works within benefit periods. Each benefit period has a $1,676 deductible. The benefit period begins again each time you’ve been out of the hospital, Skilled Nursing Facility, or home health care for more than 60 days. Each arm of the hospitalization coverage has different out of pocket costs during your benefit period.
Part A Cost Guide
Here is a quick guide to Medicare Part A out of pocket costs after deductible:
- Hospitalization Days 61-90: $419 per day
- Hospitalization Lifetime Reserve Days: 60 days at $838 per day
- Skilled Nursing Facility: 80 days at $209.50 per day
- Hospice: $0, no limit
- Home Health Services: $0
- Max Out of Pocket Costs: Medicare doesn’t put a limit on your out of pocket spending
Medigap and MA Plans Could Save You $$$
Going with a Medicare Supplement plan (Medigap) or a Medicare Advantage plan (MA) could save you money.
Medigap plans can cover all the out of pockets costs discussed above, and can cover extras like foreign emergency travel, the first 3 pints of blood for a transfusion, and add an additional 365 days of hospitalization. Click here to see a Medigap comparison chart or here to get a Medigap quote.
Medicare Advantage plans replace Original Medicare by exchanging Medicare’s nationwide network of doctors and hospitals for a local, HMO type of network, but can offer extras like drug coverage, dental, vision, hearing, and limit your out of pocket spending to as high as $9,350 a year. Click here to get a Medicare Advantage quote.
For further questions about Part A call the number above or contact Senior65.