What Does Medicare Cover?
While Medicare is acknowledged as one of the world’s best public health systems, it only covers things like: • Treatment at general and specialist practitioners • Treatment at public hospitals • A portion of the cost of medical treatment in private hospitals by surgeons, anaesthetists and other specialists
While Medicare is acknowledged as one of the world’s best public health systems, it only covers things like: • Treatment at general and specialist practitioners • Treatment at public hospitals • A portion of the cost of medical treatment in private hospitals by surgeons, anaesthetists and other specialists
Medicare offers a wide variety of benefits, depending on which “Parts” you elect: * Part A is the original Medicare benefit. All Medicare eligible individuals are automatically enrolled in Part A, free of charge. Part A provides coverage for inpatient hospital stays. * Part B is optional coverage that pays for doctor’s visits and outpatient hospital care, as well as some costs associated with physical therapy and home health care. Beneficiaries must elect to enroll in Part B and are charged a premium for it. Part B offers 80/20 coverage, which means that Medicare will pay for 80% of the cost of service, while the beneficiary pays 20%. There is also an annual deductible which beneficiaries must pay before Part B coverage begins. Part C is Medicare Advantage, formerly known as Medicare + Choice. Medicare Advantage is very much like a private health insurance plan, offering managed care, PPO, and fee-for-service coverage options. It is only available in certain regions of the country, and
For any eligible resident needing skilled nursing care, Medicare Part A coverage will pay for a semi-private room, meals, nursing services, rehabilitation services, medications, supplies and durable medical equipment for up to 100 days. For the first 20 days in a nursing home, Medicare covers 100 percent of skilled care. From Day 21 through Day 100, the resident must pay a daily co-insurance rate. Residents who are eligible for the services covered under Medicare Part B will be responsible for an annual deductible plus 20 percent of the total charges for services such as occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy, as well as medical supplies.
