Also known as hospital insurance, Medicare Part A is one of the four parts of Medicare. It covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care services.
An individual who is eligible to receive benefits from Medicare Part A. Beneficiaries may include individuals aged 65 and older, certain younger people with disabilities, and individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
Hospitalization in a medical facility for at least one night. Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, including semi-private rooms, meals, general nursing, and other hospital services and supplies.
Medicare Part A covers skilled nursing care and rehabilitation services in a skilled nursing facility following a qualifying hospital stay. It may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology services, and skilled nursing care.
End-of-life care provided to individuals with terminal illnesses, aiming to provide comfort and support rather than cure. Medicare Part A covers hospice care, including medical and support services for terminally ill patients and their families.
Medicare Part A covers certain home health care services for beneficiaries who are homebound and require skilled nursing care or therapy services. Covered services may include part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology services, and occupational therapy.
The amount a beneficiary must pay out-of-pocket before Medicare begins to pay for covered services. Medicare Part A has a deductible that applies to each benefit period for inpatient hospital stays and skilled nursing facility care.
The portion of the costs for covered services that a beneficiary is responsible for after paying the deductible. Medicare Part A coinsurance may apply to certain services, such as extended hospital stays or skilled nursing facility care beyond a certain number of days.
Additional hospital days that Medicare Part A provides once a beneficiary has used all of their original Medicare-covered hospital days. Beneficiaries have a total of 60 lifetime reserve days that can be used during their lifetime.
Returning to the hospital for the same or related condition shortly after discharge. Medicare Part A aims to reduce hospital readmissions through various initiatives, including penalties for excessive readmissions and incentives for hospitals to improve patient outcomes and care transitions.