Medicare is a nationwide health insurance program for senior citizens and those with special health circumstances such as a disability. Medicare is broken down into four distinct parts: A, B, C and D. Medicare Part A is a form of hospital coverage that is guaranteed without charging a monthly premium to most senior citizens who meet certain tax paying requirements.
Part A Coverage
Medicare Part A covers hospital visits including inpatient care should your illness or injuries require you to be formally admitted to the hospital, nursing facilities should your health reduce your ability to function without professional supervision -- and access to skilled nursing facilities and critical care in the emergency room should you be seriously injured or suddenly take ill. Medicare Part A coverage is guaranteed in most cases when you turn 65 and are a citizen of the United States or an eligible resident of the country.
Medicare Part A Costs
In most cases you do not pay a premium for Medicare Part A coverage because you paid Medicare taxes throughout your working life. These tax payments go toward the cost of paying for this part of Medicare for all eligible Americans. If you are not eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A you may still be able to purchase coverage if you are 65 years old or older and you meet U.S. citizenship or residency requirements. You may also be eligible to purchase Part A coverage if you are under 65, disabled and your premium-free coverage ended because you returned to work.
How Coverage is Handled
According to the Medicare Consumer Guide website, Medicare coverage is handled by private insurance companies who process Medicare claims for the federal government and receive payments for your medical procedures from them. These insurance companies are referred to as fiscal intermediaries. When you or your health care provider submits a health claim to Medicare using your Part A coverage, a private insurance company processes the claim and approves your coverage -- not the federal government.
Applying for Coverage
If you are already receiving social security retirement payments, railroad retirement payments or disability benefits the Social Security Administration automatically contacts you within a few months of you reaching your age eligibility for Medicare Part A. If you live in one of the 50 states or Washington D.C. you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A by the Social Security Administration. You don't have to formally apply on your own as long as you meet the eligibility criteria. Residents of Puerto Rico do not receive certain parts of Medicare automatically and are required to apply separately for coverage.
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