Medicare has four integral parts but Original Medicaid is the tandem of Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B working together. The Medicare program considers Medicare Parts A & B to be of such importance, members are not permitted to enroll in Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, without already being qualified for the first two.
Members are permitted to enroll in Part A without enrolling in Part B, however, albeit with increasing penalties accruing over time. Learn more about Medicare Part A below.
Medicare Part A is the fundamental coverage plan of the entire Medicare system. Some of the health topics Part A covers are:
- Hospital stays, both long and short-term.
- Major medical expenses are incurred when serious accidents happen.
- It also covers numerous serious illnesses, trauma, diseases and other injuries.
- It is retroactive for up to twelve months for those diagnosed with illnesses such as ESRD, or End Stage Renal Disease.
- Certain home-based medical expenses.
- This feature of the plan is especially beneficial to people with serious disabilities who are unable to travel to their appointments. Home-based medical expenses potentially covered by Medicare Part A include visits from physical therapists, doctors and nurses.
While Medicare Part A is free to many people, not everyone qualifies.
In the event you have disabilities but do not qualify for free Medicare Part A, it is still available for purchase.
Monthly premiums for Medicare Part A range from $278 to $505. Oftentimes, people choose to compare the costs of Medicare Part A plans to other health insurance plans available on the Marketplace to make sure you get the most affordable plan available.
Next, learn all there is to know about Medicare Part B for those under the age of 65.
