Medicare Parts and Benefits

Medicare Part A covers a variety of inpatient and outpatient care, including: 

Inpatient hospital care: 

This includes room, food, and nursing care. You must be admitted to the hospital by a doctor's order and the hospital must accept Medicare. 

Skilled nursing facility care: This is not custodial or long-term care. 

Hospice care: This is covered by Medicare Part A. 

Some home health care: This includes in-home nursing care. You may be eligible for up to 28 hours of combined skilled nursing care and home health aide services per week. 

Inpatient rehabilitation: This includes physical therapy. 

There are no premiums for Medicare Part A if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. However, you may still have out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles and co-insurance. If you want care outside of Part A's coverage, you'll need to pay the additional costs. Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, and some people under 65 with certain conditions or disabilities 

Medicare Part B covers a variety of medical services and items, including: 

Outpatient care: X-rays, casts, stitches, outpatient surgeries, and other approved services and supplies 

Durable medical equipment: Wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, and other equipment 

Preventive services: Exams, lab tests, screening shots, and yearly wellness visits 

Prescription drugs: Limited coverage for certain drugs, including oral ESRD drugs, oral cancer drugs, blood clotting factors, and more 

Other services: Ambulance services, clinical research, mental health and substance use disorders, oxygen equipment, and more 

Part B is optional and helps pay for covered medical services and items when they are medically necessary. You can find specific details for how individual services are covered at medicare.gov/coverage.  

 Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, is a health insurance plan that combines Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) from Original Medicare. Part C plans are offered by private companies approved by Medicare. They typically include the following benefits: 

Prescription drug coverage: Most Part C plans include Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. 

Routine dental care: Includes cleanings, X-rays, and dentures. 

Routine vision care: Includes contacts and glasses. 

Routine hearing care: Includes hearing aids. 

Fitness benefits: Includes exercise classes and gym memberships.

Other benefits: May include allowances for over-the-counter items, mental health counseling, and vaccinations. 

Each Part C plan has different rules and out-of-pocket costs. For example, some plans may require referrals to see specialists, or only allow patients to use certain doctors, facilities, or suppliers for non-urgent care. The cost of a Part C plan depends on several factors, including the plan's drug list formulary, copays, coinsurance, and annual deductible. 

  Medicare Part D covers a wide range of prescription drugs, including most drugs in certain protected classes. These include drugs to treat cancer, HIV/AIDS, or depression. However, some drugs are not covered by 

Medicare Part D, including:

Drugs for anorexia, weight loss, or weight gain

Drugs that promote fertility 

Medicare Part D costs include:

A monthly plan premium

An annual deductible

A copayment or coinsurance during the initial coverage period

A percentage of the cost of drugs once you pass the initial coverage period 

Medicare Part D is not required, but many people find it worth the investment.