What type of services does Medicare Part A cover?

Medicare Part A is specifically designed to cover inpatient services, which include hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care services. This part of Medicare is primarily focused on providing coverage for individuals when they are admitted to a hospital or require extensive care in a facility. It is important to grasp that this distinct coverage makes Medicare Part A critical for patients who are facing serious health issues that necessitate hospitalization or similar intensive medical support.

In contrast, outpatient services, preventative services, and rehabilitative services fall under different categories of Medicare or other insurance plans. Outpatient services are typically covered under Medicare Part B, which caters to visits to healthcare providers without admission to a hospital. Preventative services also primarily fall under Part B, focusing on preventing illness. Rehabilitative services, while sometimes covered, often depend on specific conditions and settings, and may also be linked with Part B. Understanding these distinctions emphasizes the essential role of Part A in providing necessary inpatient care to eligible beneficiaries.