Medicare Part A, which is free for most people, covers the cost of stays in the hospital, skilled nursing facilities, and post-acute care rehabilitation facilities. It also covers the cost of home health care and hospice services. But despite its broad reach, Medicare does not pay for many types of medical services, and it pays only a portion of most services it does cover.
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) Coverage
Medicare Part A will pay for most of the costs of your hospital stay, after you pay the Part A deductible.
Medicare Coverage of Home Health Care
Health care providers and insurance companies increasingly encourage home recovery from an illness or injury over extended hospital stays.
Medicare Coverage of Skilled Nursing Facility Stays
A growing number of patients recovering from surgery or a major illness are referred by their doctors to skilled nursing facilities.
Medicare Coverage of Inpatient Rehabilitation Stays
Medicare Part A covers most of the cost of care when you stay at an inpatient rehabilitation facility (sometimes called a rehabilitation hospital).
How to Appeal Your Medicare or Advantage Plan Denial
If you are denied Medicare coverage or payment for a hospital stay or doctor's visit, here's how to appeal.
How to File a Fast Medicare Appeal of a Hospital Discharge or Service Denial
You can quickly appeal the decision if your hospital stay or other health care services are being cut short.