Medicare Parts A and B - All You Need To Know

Medicare is an innovative concept that was developed in the United States of America a long-time ago, around 1765. You can call it public health insurance that any American citizen is entitled to after s/he turns 65, subject to certain terms and conditions.

Those with disabilities and kidney failure that are permanent and below 65 years of age can enrol for Medicare. Individuals enrolling for Medicare are called beneficiaries. It takes care of most of the expenses, but not all medical expenses of its beneficiaries. However, the question is what all does, Medicare cover? It mainly covers four parts as listed below.

Part A or Hospital Insurance Part B or medical insurance Part C or Medicare advantage Part D or prescription drug coverage

Part A or Hospital Insurance

A retiring individual automatically gets access to Medicare Part A, mainly a hospital policy.

Part A of Medicare covers the following.

Inpatient overnight hospital stays Any ailment that requires nursing facilities those are skilled.( but not private nursing duties) A long-term hospital care Expenses incurred if a beneficiary visits any religious institution that operates as a non-medical heath care institution Home health care. (but not adult supervision) Hospice care Inpatient hospital and inpatient psychiatric care An obesity bariatric surgery

Medicare pays for the following under Part A.

Conveyance Community services Blood transfusion Anesthesia Regular meals Room service (however, not amenities like TV and VCR in rooms) Prescription drugs Chemotherapy Medical apparatus and other supplies Inpatient dialysis treatment, clinical trials, alcohol, and other substance abuse Interval care in hospice

Medicare Part B covers all that Part A does not. Outpatient (doctor's) services, treatments, fees, inpatient care and outpatient surgery all fall under Medicare Part B. However, Part B is not cost free and it does not cover cent percent medical charges it goes hand in hand with an insurance policy called Medigap. Medigap is an insurance policy that covers all the remnant liabilities that Part B does not cover.

Following are the services under Medicare Part B.

All kinds of transplants Laboratory services Screenings for breast cancer Other cancer screenings Speech Occupational and physical therapies Mental health care Prostheses A few screenings for heart attack and brain stroke deterrence Glaucoma tests Bone mass density measurement

Medicare Part B does cover the normal health care services but not major chronic illnesses. Medicare supplements maybe required here to cover the costs of such treatments and services.