Elderly Hospital Insurance: What Does Medicare Part A Cover?
October 18, 2024 | Johanna Karlsson
Unfortunately, aging brings about more visits to the doctors and unwanted trips to hospitals. Luckily for seniors, Medicare Part A, also known as Hospital Insurance, is an aspect of a Medicare insurance program that provides coverage for inpatient hospital stays. This type of insurance coverage is extremely valuable, with any visit to the hospital coming at a high cost, let alone a lengthy overnight stay. With the average length of stay in a hospital at 6.2 days, according to Statista, learning what does Medicare Part A cover can help seniors ensure they understand the costs associated with extended hospital stays.
Part A of Medicare is a significant aspect of the medical insurance program for seniors or those with disabilities in the U.S. While Part A offers essential protection against the high costs of hospital stays and related services, it does have limitations, including deductibles, coinsurance, and caps on the number of covered days for certain types of care. Part A is an extremely important part of Medicare as it covers the “big ticket” items related to hospital stays and similar intensive care scenarios.
What Does Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance Cover?
Medicare Part A primarily covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care services, including semi-private rooms, meals, general nursing care, and drugs provided as part of inpatient treatment. This coverage protects Medicare recipients from the high costs associated with extended hospital stays and related medical services. As for the Medicare Part A cost, most beneficiaries do not pay to receive Part A coverage if they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years during their working years.
What Does Medicare Part A Not Cover?
While the coverage Part A provides is extensive during hospital stays or other critical care services, it does not cover all medical expenses for seniors. One significant area not covered by Part A is outpatient care, including doctor visits, preventive services, and most prescription drugs taken outside of a hospital or a nursing facility. These services are typically covered under Medicare Part B, which we will discuss later.
Other services not covered by Medicare Part B include long-term custodial care, which involves assistance with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, or eating when this is the only care needed. It also doesn’t cover private nursing, private rooms, or personal comfort items during hospital stays. Part A generally doesn’t cover medical care received outside the U.S., except in very limited circumstances. Cosmetic surgery, routine dental care, eye exams related to prescribing glasses, and hearing aids are also excluded from Part A coverage.
What Is the Difference Between Medicare Part A and Part B?
Medicare Part A and B involve the main coverage aspects of Medicare insurance, but they do have differences in terms of what is covered. While Part A covers the major expenses related to hospital stays and similar intensive care scenarios, Part B covers outpatient care, preventive services, medical supplies, and basic doctor’s services. Another significant difference between the two is that, unlike Part A, Part B usually requires a monthly premium. Combined together, Part A and Part B offer a comprehensive health insurance package, though they still leave some gaps in coverage that recipients may choose to fill with additional insurance options.
HealthPlusLife Provides Education on What Does Medicare Part A Cover
With 17% of seniors aged 65 years and older experiencing at least one hospital stay per year, according to Statista, knowing what does Medicare Part A cover is extremely important. HealthPlusLife strives to help consumers learn the various aspects of health insurance coverage so they can make informed decisions when choosing policies. Our services are designed to help consumers navigate the complicated insurance industry to ensure they can purchase the right coverage that meets their budget. If you’re looking to explore the various Medicare insurance options available to consumers, HealthPlusLife offers the expertise and support needed to make the most of the program’s offerings. Please call us at 888-828-5064, TTY 711, to get started today.
Johanna Karlsson Johanna Karlsson is a veteran health and life insurance professional licensed in 50 states. She relocated from the countryside in the south of Sweden and has not looked back. After coming to the United States to attend university, she gained her degree in Public Relations. She brought her public relations skills to a local international health insurance where she discovered a new passion in insurance. After years with that company, Johanna now joins HealthPlusLife to help build a team of licensed insurance agents ready to meet your insurance needs.
