In general, Medicare Part A helps pay for the hospital care you receive in hospitals, critical access hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. It also helps cover palliative care and some home health care. Medicare Part A covers inpatient care, skilled nursing services, some home health and rehabilitation costs, and palliative care. Original Medicare (parts A and B) doesn't cover all health care services, including eye, hearing and dental care.
However, Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans may offer coverage for some of these services. Although a person may be eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A, they will have to pay certain deductibles for some services. There you'll find more information about how to prepare for Medicare, when and how you should enroll, what to do if you plan to work after age 65, options to supplement Medicare, and resources for more information and assistance. Keep in mind that, in general, Medicare doesn't pay for the full cost of your care and you're likely responsible for some of the shared costs (deductibles, coinsurance, copays)) of services covered by Medicare.
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), most people don't pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part A coverage. Medicare Part B (health insurance) helps cover the cost of medically necessary durable medical equipment if a doctor prescribes it for use at home. Medicare is federal health insurance for people age 65 and older and for young people with disabilities. Medicare Part A eligibility requirements for people 65 and older include those who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits for at least 24 months due to a disability.
People who use their Medicare Part A coverage for hospitalizations must still meet their deductible before Medicare pays for any treatment. For example, Medicare doesn't cover breast augmentation for cosmetic reasons, but it does cover reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy. Medicare Part A (also known as hospital insurance) can generally cover inpatient hospital care, nursing facility care, nursing home care, palliative care, and home health care.
