Medicare Part A
Medicare Part A is a federal insurance plan that provides short-term hospital and nursing care coverage. It’s an essential health plan for the retired and disabled.
Original Medicare and Part A Coverage
To be eligible for Medicare Part A, you must meet one of the criteria:
- Be at least 65 years old
- Have a disability and have earned at least 24 months of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or
- Have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS).
Part A covers short-term hospital and nursing home care, as well as hospice and home health care. With it, you’re fully covered for 90 days of hospital care plus 60 additional lifetime reserve days. Every year, your coverage resets. In other words, if you run out of fully covered hospital days, it will reset back to 90 at the start of the new year.
If your doctor decides that you need nursing home care after your hospital stay, you’ll be covered for up to 100 days in a skilled nursing facility. This does NOT include “custodial” care like bathing, eating, and getting dressed. Instead, it covers care related to your health condition like medical supplies, therapies, and more.
Part A Costs to Expect
The costs for Part A are standard for every eligible member. This includes its premium and deductible, as well as a standard out-of-pocket copayment/coinsurance fee.
Almost no one pays their Part A premium. As long as you’ve worked for at least 10 years while paying Social Security taxes, you won’t pay for your premium.
The deductible is required for everyone. This fee changes every year. So, for 2022, the Part A deductible is $1,556 per year.
You will typically have a copayment or coinsurance fee for your Part A coverage. If you’re required to pay it, it’s typically 20% of the total cost.
Part A Enrollment
Medicare Part A enrollment is simple. First, you need to know when you become eligible. You can enroll starting 3 months before your 65th birthday. You’ll have until 3 months after your 65th birthday — this 7-month window is called the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP).
If you miss your IEP, you can also enroll in Part A during the General Enrollment Period (GEP) that takes place from January 1st through March 31st.
Prepare for Every Part of Medicare
We can get you ready for your future with Medicare. To learn more, call Priority Health Insurance Services at 626-966-1098, or email info@priorityhealthins.com.
