Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)

Medicare Part A is hospital insurance that is provided by Medicare. Most people do not pay a premium for this coverage. Part A covers inpatient care in skilled nursing facilities, critical access hospitals, and hospitals.

If you meet specific requirements, then you may also be eligible for hospice or home health care. Medicare Part A does not include long-term care or custodial care. Private insurance companies are the intermediaries that process and pay Medicare claims for the federal government.

Whatever health care insurance coverage you choose, make sure you have a clear understanding of all the options, coverage and premiums. Do not be afraid to ask questions and seek a Medicare representative that can help you to fully understand and tell you what you will need to do to sign up.

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) Helps Pay:

Your care in hospitals as an inpatient, critical access hospitals (small facilities that give limited outpatient and inpatient services to people in rural areas), skilled nursing facilities (not custodial or long-term care), hospice care, and some home health care. If you need pints of blood while you are in a covered stay in a hospital or skilled nursing facility that is also covered.

Information about your coverage under Medicare Part A is located in the Medical Coverage database.  If you are not sure if you have Part A, look on your red, white, and blue Medicare card. If you have Part A, "Hospital (PART A)" is printed on the bottom left corner of your Medicare card.

Medicare Part A 2010 Deductible:

The $1,100 deductible for 2010, paid by the beneficiary when admitted as a hospital inpatient, is an increase of $32 from $1,068 in 2009.  Medicare beneficiaries must pay an additional $275 per day for days 61 through 90 in 2010, and $550 for lifetime reserve days. 

The corresponding amounts in 2009 were $267 and $534, respectively. Daily coinsurance for the 21st through 100th day in a skilled nursing facility will be $137.50 in 2010, up from $133.50 in 2009.

Medicare Part A 2010 Premium:

About 99% of the Medicare recipients do not pay a premium for Medicare Part A. That is because you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while you were working for at least 10 years or 40 calendar quarters. You typically get Medicare Part A automatically when you turn age 65.

If you do not automatically get premium-free Medicare 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 you are age 65 or older, or you are disabled but no longer get premium-free Part A because you returned to work.

However, other seniors and certain people under age 65 with disabilities who have fewer than 30 quarters of coverage may obtain Part A coverage by paying a monthly premium set according to a statutory formula.

This Medicare premium will be $461 per month for 2010, an increase of $18 from 2009.  A reduced premium applies in the case of individuals with 30 to 39 quarters of coverage, who will pay a premium of $254 in 2010, compared to $244 in 2009.

If you have limited income and resources, your state of residence may help you pay for Medicare Part A and/or Medicare Part B.

We hope that you have found this information about Medicare Part A helpful. Please click here if you would like to see more articles and links regarding Medicare part A.