Parts of Medicare

Medicare benefits come in four categories - A, B, C, and D. Here's a breakdown of each part and its function, what it costs, and what it covers.

  • Medicare Part A - Hospital and other facility care (Original Medicare)
  • Medicare Part B - Doctors, outpatient hospital, medical equipment, therapy (Original Medicare)
  • Medicare Part C - Medicare Advantage, which is Original Medicare plus additional coverage - provided by health insurance companies
  • Medicare Part D - Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage provided by health insurance companies

Medicare Part A

Medicare Part A helps cover inpatient hospital care, some skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, and some home healthcare. Most people don't have to pay a monthly premium for Part A because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes while working.

If you don't get premium-free Part A, you may be able to buy it if:

  • You or your spouse aren't entitled to Social Security, because you didn't work or didn't pay enough Medicare taxes while you worked and are age 65 or older
  • You are disabled but no longer get free Part A because you returned to work

If you have limited income and resources, your state may help you pay for Part A coverage.

Not sure if you have Medicare Part A? Take a look at your red, white, and blue Medicare card. If you have Part A, "Hospital (Part A)" is printed on the lower left corner of your card.

What Medicare Part A covers

Inpatient care

Inpatient care in hospitals, including critical access hospitals and mental health centers

  • Semiprivate room and meals
  • General nursing
  • Other hospital services and supplies

Inpatient services not covered:

  • Private duty nursing
  • In-room televisions or telephones
  • Private rooms, unless medically necessary

Inpatient mental healthcare in a psychiatric facility is limited to 190 days in a lifetime.

Skilled nursing facility care, following a related three-day inpatient hospital stay

  • Semiprivate room and meals
  • Skilled nursing and rehabilitative services
  • Other services and supplies

Home healthcare

Limited to reasonable and necessary part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care and home health aide services as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology that are ordered by your doctor and provided by a Medicare-certified home health agency

Also covers:

  • Medical social services
  • Durable medical equipment, including wheelchairs, hospital beds, oxygen, and walkers
  • Medical supplies and other services
  • Hospice care for people with a terminal illness
  • Drugs and other treatments to relieve pain or other symptoms such as difficulty breathing
  • Medical, nursing and social support services from a Medicare-approved hospice
  • Other services not otherwise covered by Medicare, including grief counseling and pastoral care

Hospice care is usually given at home, which may include a nursing facility if this is your home. However, Medicare covers some short-term hospital and inpatient care given to a hospice patient so that the usual caregiver can rest, known as respite care.

Blood

Pints of blood received at a hospital or skilled nursing facility during a covered stay.

Watch Healthcare Video: What is Medicare?