Medicare Part A

Trying to understand Medicare in general and its parts in particular, including Medicare Part A can be a frustrating experience.

Understanding our ABC's may be easy, now that we have learned how to read. If you have any recollection trying to learn to read however, you know that you had to work at it and that it didn't always come easy.

In some respects, breaking Medicare into "parts," such as Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, etc., does help us to understand the differences in these parts, but I wouldn't say that it makes it easy. That is my goal, to make Medicare easy.

One method, which has been helpful for me is word association.

For Part A, I think of it like this. Part A pays for expenses "After" (A is for After) you get admitted to the hospital.

Medicare Part A is the insurance that pays for hospitalization. As soon as you get admitted to the hospital, (assuming you have Medicare) you will be covered under Part A.

The big question in most people's mind is, "how much will I have to pay if I go to the hospital?"

In 2010, if you have Medicare Part A, you will have to pay a deductible of $1,100 for the first 60 days of hospitalization. You will then have to pay $275 per day, for days 61-90 and $550 per day for days 91-150 (also known as your lifetime reserve days).

For example, Jane had Part A and she was hospitalized for 1 day. Jane had to pay $1,100 of her hospital bill. One month later, Jane had to go back to the hospital and this time, she stayed for 59 days (Jane was a sick lady). For those 59 days, Jane didn't have to pay any additional hospital costs. After being released for one week, Jane had to come back to the hospital, this time she had to stay for 10 days. Jane's cost for this third hospital stay was $2,750.

Jane might have avoided paying for her deductibles if she had a Medicare Supplement policy. A Medicare Supplement policy (also known as a Medigap policy) might have paid for some or all of Jane's hospital charges.

Another question often asked by people is, "How do I qualify for Medicare Part A?"

If you qualify for social security, railroad retirement benefits, then you also qualify for Medicare Part A (and Part B). If you qualify for these benefits, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare 3 months before your 65th birthday, although coverage does not become effective until the first day of the month in which you turn 65.

You might also qualify for Medicare Part A if you have been disabled for 24 months and receive Social Security Disability benefits.

If you would like help understanding your Medicare benefits, go to MedicareNational.com At MedicareNational.com, our goal is to help you feel secure, save money and get the plan that is right for you. We Make Medicare... Easy!