Medicare Part A is the primary, foundational element of the entire Medicare program. Inpatient hospital stays covered under Part A. Part A also covers costs incurred from major accidents, injuries, serious illnesses/diseases and trauma. Even if you are in good health, it is important to have Medicare Part A in cases of emergency.

Without the benefits provided by this part of Medicare, many seniors would be unable to receive the health care and services needed to stay healthy and even alive. It is especially useful for seniors due to other features such as paying for hospice expenses and even limited nursing home costs.

Medicare Part A also covers certain home health-related expenses such as:

• Home-based physical therapy.

• Visits from nurses.

• Home-based physician examinations.

Medicare Part A is free to most tax-paying qualified seniors and their applicable spouses. Seniors with long term diseases End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and those with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) automatically qualify for free Medicare Part A as well. 

For seniors unable to qualify for Medicare, Part A is purchasable for monthly premiums ranging from approximately $250 to $450 per month. For seniors having to buy their own plans it is possible to compare the benefits of Medicare plans with those purchasable through the Health Insurance Marketplace. 

The combination of Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B is known as Original Medicare. Both parts are crucial to the Medicare health plan overall. Both are also the foundation upon which Medicare Part C and D are built. It is possible to be enrolled in Medicare Part A without being enrolled in Part B but penalties might accrue if enrollment in Part B is delayed for too long.

Next, learn all about Medicare Part B.