Medicare Part A 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.
- Most Medicare recipients pay $0 premium
- Part A premium for people who aren't eligible for premium free is $443 (2009)
- Hospitalization:
- Days 1 through 60: an annual deductible of $1068
- Days 61 through 90: $267 each day
- Days 91 through 150: $534 each lifetime reserve day
- Skilled Nursing Facility (following a 3 day covered hospital stay)
- Days 1 through 20: $0 for each day
- Days 21 through 100: $133.50 for each day
- 100 day max for each benefit period
- Home Health Care; No co-payment for all covered home health visits
- Hospice care; Partial cost for outpatient drugs and inpatient respite care
- Blood; Pints of blood you get at a hospital or skilled nursing facility during a covered stay
