Medicare Part A: What’s Covered and What’s Not!

An essential piece of your Medicare coverage is Part A, or your hospital coverage. But please be advised, not everything is covered under Part A if you're admitted to the hospital or any inpatient stay. Let's take a quick look. What Medicare Part A: What's Covered and What's Not!

What Medicare Part A Covers

Medicare Part A is designed to help cover inpatient services, including:

Hospital Stays

• Semi-private room

• Meals

• General nursing

• Medications as part of your inpatient treatment

• Hospital services and supplies

• Inpatient care in critical access hospitals and mental health facilities

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Care

• Short-term rehabilitation after a qualifying hospital stay (at least 3 days as an inpatient)

• Includes services like physical therapy, wound care, and intravenous medications

• Does not include long-term or custodial care

  
  
  
  

Hospice Care

• For terminally ill patients with a prognosis of 6 months or less

• Includes pain relief, symptom management, grief counseling, and respite care for caregivers

  
  

Home Health Care

• Part-time skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and more

• Must be doctor-approved and provided through a Medicare-certified agency

What Part A Does Not Cover

• Private-duty nursing

• Television or phone in your hospital room (if there’s a separate charge)

• Personal care items (like razors or slippers)

• Long-term or custodial care (help with activities like bathing or dressing)

  
  

Cost Breakdown

While Part A is premium-free for most people (based on work history), there are costs involved:

• Deductible: You pay a deductible for each benefit period ($1,632 in 2024).

• Coinsurance: After 60 days in a hospital or 20 days in a skilled nursing facility, daily coinsurance kicks in.

  
  

Final Thoughts

Medicare Part A lays the foundation for your healthcare coverage in retirement. Understanding exactly what’s included helps you plan ahead, avoid surprises, and make informed decisions when combining it with other parts like Part B or a Medicare Advantage plan.

Need help understanding how Part A fits into your Medicare plan? Contact us at Asana Insurance Group for a free consultation—we’ll walk you through it step by step.

Wishing you health!

Your Medicare Broker,

Ralph

Call us today at: (888) 711-4707 or email: ralph@asanainsurancegroup.com