What is Part A?
Medicare Part A is one of four parts of the Medicare program in the United States. It is also known as hospital insurance and it covers inpatient hospital care, hospice care, skilled nursing facility care, and some home health care services.
Eligibility for Medicare Part A is based on a person's age and work history. Individuals who are 65 years or older and have worked and paid taxes for at least 10 years are eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A. Individuals who have not met this requirement can still enroll in Medicare Part A, but they will have to pay a premium.
Benefits of Part A include inpatient hospital care, which covers semi-private rooms, meals, general nursing, and other hospital services and supplies. It also covers hospice care for terminally ill individuals and skilled nursing facility care for those who require daily skilled care but do not need to be in a hospital.
It is important to note that there are some restrictions and limitations to the coverage provided by Medicare Part A, and out-of-pocket costs may apply for certain services.
