Medicare Part A Coverage Essential Details

By Larry Olson


Medicare is a social insurance program which the US federal government administers using different private insurance companies across the country. This is funded by general revenue, surtaxes from beneficiaries, premiums and payroll tax. Those who qualify for this are Americans 65 years old or older and those with certain disabilities.

Medicare has four various parts and each one covers some specific services that can be used depending on the medical needs. Medicare part A coverage is the first one and it covers services in skilled nursing facility, limited home health, hospice and hospital care. Here are some essential details regarding this coverage which you must be informed.

Hospital expense coverage will be received by the beneficiary that are essential in being an inpatient at the hospital. These include meals, medications, nursing service, semi private room and other related service and supplies coming from the hospital. The cost for choosing to stay in a private room is not included as well as the extra charges for other services.

Home health care are for those that are medically advised to stay home and not leave without the assistance of special equipment, transportation or another person. Examples of services covered by this includes physical and occupational therapy. The doctor may order a durable medical equipment for your use at home but this will be under part B.

Skilled nursing facility stay would only be covered if you stayed at the hospital for at least 3 days which does not count the day you are discharged. This coverage includes nursing service, meals, semi private room, medications, dietary counseling, medical supplies and medical equipment. The doctor should certify your need to stay because you cannot receive at home the care needed.

Hospice coverage is for those who are terminally ill and the doctor certifies they have six months or fewer left to live. Making them comfortable and relieving their pain is the focus rather than curing their disease instead. Abandoning the curative treatment must be based on your approval so you will be receiving palliative treatment instead.

The services include doctor, nursing, social, and hospice aide plus medical supplies and equipment, dietary counseling and pain relief medications. There may also be some cost that are not usually covered when in hospice such as grief and spiritual counseling. You can stop anytime to be under hospice care if you plan to return to curative treatments.

Those who are receiving retirement benefits from Railroad Retirement Board or Social Security when turning 65 are automatically enrolled usually. The benefits start during the first day in your month of birth unless the first day is your birthday which will make the starting month the previous one. Three months before your 65th birthday is when the Medicare card should be delivered to you.

If you do not have the qualifications to be automatically enrolled then do it manually during the provided period of seven months. Your month of birth is one of the seven months plus the three before it and the three after it as well. Failure to enroll during the period requires you to do it on the next coming general enrollment period.




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