Of the various coverage types, Medicare Part A spares arguably the biggest financial burden in the world of medical expenses – inpatient care. Here, we’ll examine how to get Part A, what it covers, its costs, and how it works with other insurance.
Who Gets Part A – and How?
Part A is available to all individuals 65 and older. Enrollment starts three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months following your 65th birthday. This is the Initial Enrollment Period, and joining at this time allows you to get Part A premium-free.
Other ways to be eligible include:
- Being diagnosed with a condition such as End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits for 24 months
If you don’t enroll during Initial Enrollment or aren’t automatically enrolled (like with receiving disability benefits and getting diagnosed with ALS), you’ll have to wait until the General Enrollment Period, which starts January 1 and ends March 31.
What Does Part A Cover?
Part A covers the medical services you receive in the hospital or skilled nursing facility as an inpatient. This includes your meals, semi-private rooms, general nursing care, and medications.
What Are The Costs For Part A?
Medicare Part A costs include:
- Premiums
- Deductibles
- Copayments
If you didn’t get premium-free Part A, your premiums could be up to $506 per month.
Deductibles are $1,600 per benefit period, which starts the first day you’re admitted as an inpatient and end after 60 consecutive days without receiving inpatient care.
Once you’ve paid your deductible, your costs will be $0 for:
- Days 1-60 of your hospital stay
- Days 1-20 of your stay in a skilled nursing facility
After you’ve been an inpatient for 60 days, your costs will be:
- $400 daily for days 61-90, then $800 per lifetime reserve day (you get 60 of these for your lifetime, meaning you can get coverage for days 91-150)
- $200 daily for days 21-100 in a skilled nursing facility, then all costs after that)
How Does Part A Work With Other Insurance?
With two policies, one will pay what it can of the costs, and the other will cover what it can of the remainder. The one that will pay first depends on the specifics of the insurance policy you have alongside Medicare.
If you have a Medicare Supplement Plan (Medigap), the leftover costs after Medicare has paid its share will go to the supplement plan first. Your costs will either be minimal or none at all.
Get Part A Today
JA Agency enables you to get your Medicare policy at the best rate. Lower health care expenses and more coverage are only one phone call away. We’re ready to help you get the plan you deserve. Call us today at (551) 795-1229.