topics in this section: Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, Medicare Insurance, Benefits, Coverage

Medicare Part A

Think of Medicare Part A as "hospital insurance". It pays towards your expenses for hospital care (inpatient), a skilled nursing facility (but usually not including long-term-care), some aspects of home health care and, if you need it, hospice.

Medicare Part A and Part B is not Prescription Drug Coverage or Insurance.

According to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services*, "Most people automatically get Part A coverage without having to pay a monthly premium because they, or their spouses, paid Medicare taxes while working." You must meet certain qualifications to get these benefits. If you do not qualify, you might be able to buy Medicare Part A. Your red, white and blue Medicare card should list it if you were automatically enrolled in Part A.

Web pages and brochures from government, education, and non-commercial sites about these subjects:

web page: Part A Benefits & Costs 2005 source:New York State Office for the Aging languages: English from the web page: (date:2005) "...Medicare Part A is financed primarily through federal payroll taxes (FICA taxes) paid into Social Security by employers and employees. The FICA tax is 7.65 percent. Of this, 1.45 percent goes to the Medicare Part A Trust Fund. The rest of Part A is paid for by people who must purchase it. Medicare Part A Covered Services and Costs ... " web page: Medicare Program - General Information Overview source:Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services languages: English from the web page: "...Part A Hospital Insurance - Most people don't pay a premium for Part A because they or a spouse already paid for it through their payroll taxes while working. Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, including critical access hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities (not custodial or long-term care). It also helps cover hospice care and some home health care. Beneficiaries must meet certain conditions to get these benefits... "

Medicare Part B

Part B is the basic coverage for medical expenses such as doctor's fees, some exams and tests, certain outpatient care in a clinic or hospital, and approved screening shots. These are basic services not covered under Medicare Part A. It usually does not pay 100% of a specific cost: it pays the Medicare share, and you must make up the difference.

Medicare Part B is optional; you must sign-up for it. It is frequently called the traditional or original Medicare plan. You could purchase the coverage alone, as Part B insurance, or add to it with insurance that gives you expanded coverage for medical expenses, and as another option, prescription drug costs. (see our links to Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans on our home page The Medicare Project - home)

The cost for Medicare Part B is set by a standard monthly premium that applies to everyone below a monthly income limit set by the federal government.