Medicare Part A is a health insurance program that helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, and home health care. It is one of four parts of Medicare, the other three being Part B, Part C, and Part D.
Medicare Part A is funded by payroll taxes that you and your employer paid into Social Security. If you are eligible for Medicare Part A, you will not have to pay a monthly premium.
Medicare Part A covers a variety of services, including:
- Inpatient hospital care
- Skilled nursing facility care
- Hospice care
- Home health care
- Outpatient care
- Durable medical equipment
- Some preventive services
Medicare Part A also covers some services that are not covered by Part B, such as:
- Blood transfusions
- Organ transplants
- Prosthetic devices
- Radiation therapy
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
If you are eligible for Medicare Part A, you can enroll in the program during your initial enrollment period, which is the seven-month period that begins three months before you turn 65. You can also enroll in Medicare Part A during the general enrollment period, which is from January 1 to March 31 each year.
If you are not eligible for Medicare Part A, you can purchase it through the Medicare Advantage program. Medicare Advantage is a type of Medicare health plan that offers Part A, Part B, and Part D coverage.
For more information about Medicare Part A, contact Ashford Insurance at 817-952-3153.
Photo by Anastasia Shuraeva
