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Medicare Part A
Medicare Part A is a federal health insurance
program that covers inpatient hospital care,
hospice care, and home health care. Here's a
look at the Part A basics.
Medicare Part A is a federal health insurance
program that covers inpatient hospital care,
hospice care, and home health care. Here's a
look at the Part A basics.
Medicare is a type of health insurance that was created by the government to help cover medical bills for
citizens who meet certain requirements. Medicare Part A, part of the Original Medicare, is a government
funded hospital insurance that covers in patient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and Religious
Nonmedical Health Care Institutions; hospice care services; and home health services.
Who Can Get Medicare Part A?
How Much Does Part A Cost?
If you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while you were working, you typically don’t have to pay a
premium for Part A coverage.
You may be able to purchase Medicare Part A coverage if you are over 65 and meet the citizenship
requirement. If you are under 65, you must be disabled and can no longer obtain Part A Medicare
coverage for free because you’ve returned to work. The premium for Part A coverage could be as much
as $443 per month. If you purchase Part A Medicare Insurance, you typically must also purchase
Medicare Part B.
When Can I Enroll in Part A?
You can automatically get Medicare Part A coverage on the first day of the
month you turn 65 if you also receive benefits from Social Security or the
Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). Your Medicare card will come in the mail
3 months before your 65th birthday.
On the other hand, if you are under 65 and you are disabled, you will
automatically receive Part A once you’ve received Social Security disability
benefits or certain RRB benefits for 24 months. Your Medicare card will come
in the mail on your 25th month of disability. An exception is made for those
with Amyothrophic Later Sclerosis, who automatically receive Part A the
same month that disability benefits start.
You might have to sign up for Part A, even if you are eligible to receive it for
free. If, for any reason, you’re not receiving Social Security or RRB benefits,
you should contact Social Security (or the RRB if you worked for a railroad) 3
months before your 65th birthday to sign up.
How to Purchase Part A
You can purchase Medicare Part A if you aren’t eligible to receive it for free
during these times:
You should sign up when you are first eligible for Medicare Part A to avoid a
penalty increase on your premium with two exceptions.
1. If you waited to enroll in Medicare because you or your spouse
were enrolled in an employer’s group health plan, you have 8 months
after employment ended or the plan ended to enroll.
2. If you were an international volunteer, you have 6 months after your assignment ends to enroll.
What Does Medicare Part A Cover
What’s Not Covered By Part A
You can find out more information about Medicare Part A by contacting your local Social Security office
or by visiting www.medicare.gov.
citizens who meet certain requirements. Medicare Part A, part of the Original Medicare, is a government
funded hospital insurance that covers in patient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and Religious
Nonmedical Health Care Institutions; hospice care services; and home health services.
Who Can Get Medicare Part A?
- Citizens over 65
- Citizens under 65 with certain disabilities
- Citizens with End-Stage Renal Disease
How Much Does Part A Cost?
If you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while you were working, you typically don’t have to pay a
premium for Part A coverage.
You may be able to purchase Medicare Part A coverage if you are over 65 and meet the citizenship
requirement. If you are under 65, you must be disabled and can no longer obtain Part A Medicare
coverage for free because you’ve returned to work. The premium for Part A coverage could be as much
as $443 per month. If you purchase Part A Medicare Insurance, you typically must also purchase
Medicare Part B.
When Can I Enroll in Part A?
You can automatically get Medicare Part A coverage on the first day of the
month you turn 65 if you also receive benefits from Social Security or the
Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). Your Medicare card will come in the mail
3 months before your 65th birthday.
On the other hand, if you are under 65 and you are disabled, you will
automatically receive Part A once you’ve received Social Security disability
benefits or certain RRB benefits for 24 months. Your Medicare card will come
in the mail on your 25th month of disability. An exception is made for those
with Amyothrophic Later Sclerosis, who automatically receive Part A the
same month that disability benefits start.
You might have to sign up for Part A, even if you are eligible to receive it for
free. If, for any reason, you’re not receiving Social Security or RRB benefits,
you should contact Social Security (or the RRB if you worked for a railroad) 3
months before your 65th birthday to sign up.
How to Purchase Part A
You can purchase Medicare Part A if you aren’t eligible to receive it for free
during these times:
- During the initial enrollment period, from 3 months before you turn 65
- During the general enrollment period. Between January 1 and March
You should sign up when you are first eligible for Medicare Part A to avoid a
penalty increase on your premium with two exceptions.
1. If you waited to enroll in Medicare because you or your spouse
were enrolled in an employer’s group health plan, you have 8 months
after employment ended or the plan ended to enroll.
2. If you were an international volunteer, you have 6 months after your assignment ends to enroll.
What Does Medicare Part A Cover
- The cost of a blood transfusion if the hospital must purchase blood for you.
- Medically-necessary part-time nursing care or physical therapy, speech-language pathology, or
- Hospice care for those with a life expectancy of 6 months or less due to a terminal illness.
- Hospital stay in a semi-private room. This includes meals, general nursing, drugs, and other
- Up to 100 days each benefit period in a skilled nursing facility care including a semi-private
What’s Not Covered By Part A
- Acupuncture
- Cosmetic surgery
- Custodial care
- Most dental care and dentures
- Routine eye exams, eye refractions, and most eyeglasses
- Routine foot care
- Hearing aids and exams
- Long-term care
- Routine or annual physical exams
- Most prescription drugs
- Syringes or insulin
- Travel
You can find out more information about Medicare Part A by contacting your local Social Security office
or by visiting www.medicare.gov.
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Copyright © 2009 The Money Alert.com. All rights reserved.
Robert Valentine, Ca. Insurance License# 0C23496, is a Registered Investment Advisor Representative with Crown Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor and a registered
representative with Securities America, Inc., a Registered Broker Dealer. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., Member NASD/SIPC. Crown Wealth Management and
Securities America are not affiliated. This site has been published for residents of AZ, CA, FL, IL, MI, MO, and TX. All information herein has been prepared solely for informational
purposes, and it is not an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any security or instrument or to participate in any particular trading strategy. Crown Wealth
Management does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third
party, whether linked to this web site or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only. Crown Wealth
Management and Securities America do not endorse, control, or receive compensation from any of the third party advertisers within this website. Neither Crown Wealth Management or
Securities America are affiliated with any of the firms or entities listed unless specifically stated.
representative with Securities America, Inc., a Registered Broker Dealer. Securities offered through Securities America, Inc., Member NASD/SIPC. Crown Wealth Management and
Securities America are not affiliated. This site has been published for residents of AZ, CA, FL, IL, MI, MO, and TX. All information herein has been prepared solely for informational
purposes, and it is not an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any security or instrument or to participate in any particular trading strategy. Crown Wealth
Management does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third
party, whether linked to this web site or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only. Crown Wealth
Management and Securities America do not endorse, control, or receive compensation from any of the third party advertisers within this website. Neither Crown Wealth Management or
Securities America are affiliated with any of the firms or entities listed unless specifically stated.
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