Medicare FAQ

What is Medicare Part A?

Medicare Part A is designed to help cover inpatient care in hospitals, including inpatient rehabilitation facilities and critical access hospitals. In addition, Medicare Part A covers inpatient stays in skilled nursing facilities (excluding custodial and long term care).

While original Medicare Part A provides great coverage, you may have to pay unlimited healthcare costs if you do not purchase a Medigap Plan. The out of pocket expense you will be responsible for is the "gap" between what Medicare pays and what the medical services actually cost.

How much will I have to pay?

For hospital stays, you will be required to pay for the following for each benefit period:

• $1068 hospital deductible for days 1-60
• $267 per day for days 61-90
• $534 per day for days 91-150 (using your 60 lifetime reserve days as well)

For skilled nursing facility stays, you will be required to pay the following for each benefit period:

• $133.50 per day for days 21-100
• All costs for every day after day 100
• If you are an inpatient, you will pay for the first 3 pints of blood and 20% for additional pints (unless someone you know donates blood to replace what has been used)

For home health care, you will pay for 20% of durable medical equipment.

For hospice care, you will pay a $5 copayment for outpatient prescription drugs and 5% for inpatient respite care.