Medicare

Question 1

Medicare A benefits

Answer 1

1. hospital care
2. skilled nursing care
3. hospice care, and
4. home health care

Question 2

Medicare B

Answer 2

1. Physician fees
2. Outpatient services

Question 3

Medicare A

Hospital benefits

Answer 3

1. Medicare pays for hospital services for up to 90 days in each benefit period
   
   1. A benefit period ends when the patient is out of the hospital for 60 con-secutive days
   2. A new benefit period then begins upon a subsequent hospitalization, which requires the insured to pay the deductible once again
2. A lifetime reserve of 60 additional days is also available to individuals who have exhausted the regular 90 days of benefits
3. Hospital benefits coverage
   
   1. In each benefit period, covered hospital expenses are paid in full for 60 days, subject to a deductible of $1,408 (2020)
   2. For days 61–90, the patient coinsurance is $352 per day (2020)
   3. The patient coinsurance for the lifetime reserve is $704 per day (2020)

Question 4

Medicare A

Skilled nursing benefits

Answer 4

Skilled nursing care benefits are available to individuals who no longer require continuous hospital care

1. To receive benefits, a physician must certify that skilled nursing care or rehab services are needed for a condition that was treated in a hospital within the past 30 days
2. Also, the prior hospitalization must have lasted at least three days

Question 5

Medicare A

Skilled nursing amounts

Answer 5

1. Medicare will pay benefits in full for the first 20 days of skilled nursing care
2. For days 21–100, the patient coinsurance is $176 per day (2020)
3. Medicare coverage is not provided after 100 days

Question 6

Medicare A

Custodial care

Answer 6

None!

No coverage is provided by Medicare for custodial or long-term care

Therefore, Medicare Part A benefits should not be considered a substitute for long-term care insurance