РусскийMedicare Part A
Medicare Part A: How and When to Enroll, What It Covers, Costs, and Key Information
How and When to Enroll in Medicare Part A
Medicare Part A, also known as hospital insurance, is generally automatically provided to most people when they turn 65 if they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters). If you are already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A starting on the first day of the month you turn 65.
However, for those who aren’t automatically enrolled or those who need to sign up manually, here are the key points:
| When You Should Enroll | Eligibility | Enrollment Process |
| Automatically enrolled | If you’re already receiving Social Security or RRB benefits. | You don’t need to take any action; your coverage starts the month you turn 65. |
| Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) | If you’re not receiving Social Security/RRB benefits. | You can sign up during your IEP, which starts 3 months before your 65th birthday month and lasts for 7 months. |
| Special Enrollment Period (SEP) | If you’re covered under employer-sponsored insurance after age 65. | You can delay enrolling without penalty and sign up when your employer coverage ends, during an SEP. |
| Late Enrollment | If you miss your IEP and don’t qualify for an SEP. | You may face a penalty, and you can only sign up during the General Enrollment Period (GEP), from January 1 to March 31 each year. |
What Does Medicare Part A Cover?
Medicare Part A helps cover hospital-related expenses and certain limited home health services. Here’s an overview of the coverage:
| Service | What Part A Covers | Details |
| Inpatient hospital care | Semi-private rooms, meals, general nursing, medications, and supplies | Covers up to 90 days per benefit period, with additional 60 lifetime reserve days for longer hospital stays. |
| Skilled nursing facility care | After a qualifying hospital stay of 3 days | Limited to 100 days per benefit period. You must need daily skilled nursing or rehabilitation services. |
| Hospice care | Hospice services for terminally ill patients | Covers pain relief, support services, and some home care for terminally ill patients expected to live six months or less. |
| Home health care | Limited home health services | Covers part-time skilled nursing care, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology. Does not cover personal care or homemaker services. |
Costs of Medicare Part A
Most people do not pay a premium for Medicare Part A if they or their spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters). However, there are other costs to consider, especially if you require extended hospital care.
| Type of Cost | 2024 Cost | Details |
| Premium | $0 (if you qualify) | If you don’t qualify for premium-free Part A, the monthly premium is up to $506. |
| Deductible (per benefit period) | $1,632 | This is what you pay for each hospital benefit period before Medicare begins paying. |
| Hospital Coinsurance | $0 for days 1-60 | You pay $0 for the first 60 days in the hospital. After that, costs increase. |
| $400 per day for days 61-90 | You pay this amount for days 61-90 of inpatient care. | |
| $800 per day for lifetime reserve days | After 90 days, you pay $800 for up to 60 lifetime reserve days. |
Benefit periods begin the day you’re admitted to the hospital and end when you haven’t received inpatient care for 60 consecutive days.
Graph: Hospital Costs Under Medicare Part A
Below is a graph showing your expected out-of-pocket costs for a typical hospital stay:
| Days in Hospital | Your Cost per Day (2024) |
| 1-60 | $0 |
| 61-90 | $400 |
| 91+ (Lifetime Reserve Days) | $800 |
Key Information About Medicare Part A
- No monthly premium for most people: If you worked and paid taxes for at least 10 years.
- Covers hospital and facility care, but not outpatient or doctor visits.
- You pay deductibles and coinsurance: You should consider additional coverage (like Medigap or Medicare Advantage) to help with these out-of-pocket costs.
- No out-of-pocket maximum: Original Medicare has no cap on the total amount you might spend in a given year.
Source of information www.medicare.gov
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