Saturday, May 20, 2017

Medicare Part A Coverage Basic Information

By Larry Olson


Medicare is a social insurance program which the US federal government administers using different private insurance companies across the country. This is funded by general revenue, surtaxes from beneficiaries, premiums and payroll tax. Those who qualify for this are Americans 65 years old or older and those with certain disabilities.

Medicare has four parts with each one covering specific services that you can use which depends on the medical needs you have. First one is Medicare part A coverage which covers the services in limited home health, skilled nursing facility, hospital and hospice care. Here are some basic information about this coverage that you must know.

The beneficiary will be receiving hospital expense coverage which are essential when they are an inpatient of the hospital. This includes nursing service, meals, semi private room, medications and other supplies and services from the hospital. It does not include private room cost when you chose to have one unless it is necessary medically and extra charges are not included as well.

Home health care are for those that are medically advised to stay home and not leave without the assistance of special equipment, transportation or another person. Examples of services covered by this includes physical and occupational therapy. The doctor may order a durable medical equipment for your use at home but this will be under part B.

The stay at the skilled nursing facility would be covered only if the stay at the hospital was at least for three days and the day of being discharged is not counted. This coverage includes dietary counseling, meals, medications, nursing service, semi private room, medical equipment and supplies. Your need of staying at the facility because of the needed care being unable to be received when at home.

Hospice coverage are meant for those having terminal illness and only with six months or less left for them to live according to the certification of the doctor. Relieving pain and making them comfortable is the focus here instead of curing their disease. An agreement of you abandoning curative treatment must be there so you will receive palliative treatment instead.

The services include doctor, nursing, social, and hospice aide plus medical supplies and equipment, dietary counseling and pain relief medications. There may also be some cost that are not usually covered when in hospice such as grief and spiritual counseling. You can stop anytime to be under hospice care if you plan to return to curative treatments.

You are usually automatically enrolled when already receiving the Social Security retirement or Railroad Retirement Board benefits when turning 65. First day of the birth month is when the benefits start unless born on its first day then instead it would start one month before it. The Medicare card will be given three months before turning 65.

If not automatically enrolled because of not being qualified then this must be done manually during the given period that is seven months. The seven months are the three ones before your birthday, your birth month itself and then three months after. Failing to enroll within the period may require you to pay the penalty fee and shall wait for the next general enrollment period.




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