Medicare can be confusing. Let’s cover some of the basics.
What is Medicare Part A? Hospital Insurance.
Medicare Part A covers the following services:
- Inpatient hospital care: This is care received after you are formally admitted into a hospital by a physician. You are covered for up to 90 days each benefit period in a general hospital, plus 60 lifetime reserve days. Medicare also covers up to 190 lifetime days in a Medicare-certified psychiatric hospital.
- Skilled nursing facility (SNF) care: Medicare covers room, board, and a range of services provided in a SNF, including administration of medications, tube feedings, and wound care. You are covered for up to 100 days each benefit period if you qualify for coverage. To qualify, you must have spent at least three consecutive days as a hospital inpatient within 30 days of admission to the SNF, and need skilled nursing or therapy services.
- Home health care: Medicare covers services in your home if you are homebound and need skilled care. You are covered for up to 100 days of daily care or an unlimited amount of intermittent care. To qualify for Part A coverage, you must have spent at least three consecutive days as a hospital inpatient within 14 days of receiving home health care.
- Hospice care: This is care you may elect to receive if a provider determines you are terminally ill. You are covered for as long as your provider certifies you need care.
Keep in mind that Medicare does not usually pay the full cost of your care, and you will likely be responsible for some portion of the cost-sharing (deductibles, coinsurances, copayments) for Medicare-covered services.
Most people do not pay a monthly Part A premium because they or a spouse have 40 or more quarters of Medicare-covered employment. In 2025, if a person has less than 30 quarters of Medicare-covered employment the Part A premium is $518 (in 2024 $505) per month. If a person has 30 to 39 quarters of Medicare-covered employment, the Part A premium is $285 (in 2024, $278) per month.
What is Medicare Part B? Medical Insurance.
Medicare Part B provides outpatient/medical coverage. The list below provides a summary of Part B-covered services and coverage rules:
- Provider services: Medically necessary services you receive from a licensed health professional.
- Durable medical equipment (DME): This is equipment that serves a medical purpose, is able to withstand repeated use, and is appropriate for use in the home. Examples include walkers, wheelchairs, and oxygen tanks. You may purchase or rent DME from a Medicare-approved supplier after your provider certifies you need it. Durable Medical Equipment
- Home health services: Services covered if you are homebound and need skilled nursing or therapy care.
- Ambulance services: This is emergency transportation, typically to and from hospitals. Coverage for non-emergency ambulance/ambulette transportation is limited to situations in which there is no safe alternative transportation available, and where the transportation is medically necessary.
- Preventive services: These are screenings and counseling intended to prevent illness, detect conditions, and keep you healthy. In most cases, preventive care is covered by Medicare with no coinsurance.
- Therapy services: These are outpatient physical, speech, and occupational therapy services provided by a Medicare-certified therapist.
- Mental health services.
- X-rays and lab tests.
- Chiropractic care when manipulation of the spine is medically necessary to fix a subluxation of the spine (when one or more of the bones of the spine move out of position).
- Select prescription drugs, including immunosuppressant drugs, some anti-cancer drugs, some anti-emetic drugs, some dialysis drugs, and drugs that are typically administered by a physician.
This list includes commonly covered services and items, but it is not a complete list. Keep in mind that Medicare does not usually pay the full cost of your care, and you will likely be responsible for some portion of the cost-sharing (deductibles, coinsurances, copayments) for Medicare-covered services.
The 2025 Part-B premium is $185 (in 2024, $174.70) per month (premiums will be higher for individuals with annual incomes of $106,000 (in 2024, $103,000) or more and married couples with annual incomes of $212,00 (in 2024, $206,000) or more.)
Please see 2025 Medicare Part A & B Premiums, Deductibles, and Coinsurances 2024 Medicare Part A & B Premiums, Deductibles, and Co-Insurances) page for information regarding the Medicare Part A and Part B deductibles and coinsurances.