What does Medicare Part A primarily cover?

Medicare Part A primarily covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care services. It is focused on services that require a patient to be formally admitted to a healthcare facility or receive skilled nursing care. Home healthcare visits, which can include services like nursing care or physical therapy while the patient is still in their home, fall under this coverage when they are considered necessary and ordered by a physician.

While other parts of Medicare cover outpatient services, prescription drugs, and long-term care facilities, those areas are handled by different parts of the Medicare program. For instance, outpatient services are covered by Medicare Part B, prescription drugs are covered under Part D, and long-term care facilities may not be adequately covered at all under Medicare as a whole. Understanding each part's specific coverage can help beneficiaries choose the right options for their healthcare needs.