Original Medicare: What it Does and Doesn’t Cover

Original Medicare includes two parts: A and B. The reason it is called Original Medicare is Parts A and B used to be the only Medicare coverage available until they added Part C (Medicare Advantage) and Part D (prescription drugs) later on.
Plan A
Hospital
Medical
Plan A
Hospital
Medical

Medicare Part A helps pay for medically necessary care that requires a stay in the hospital or at a skilled nursing facility. It also covers hospice care for the terminally ill and some skilled home health care.

Medicare Part A is free if you or your spouse have paid into Social Security for 10 or more years. However, it does come with a deductible per hospital stay for each “benefit period.” This period begins when you are admitted to the hospital and ends when you have been out of the hospital for 60 days in a row. After that, what you pay changes depending on the length of your stay.

Medicare Pay
You Pay
Days 1-60
Days 1-60
$0 after you pay your Part A deductible of $1,600
Days 61-90
$400 copay per day
Days 91-150
$800 copay each day while using your 60 lifetime reserve days
After day 150
You pay all costs
Source:
Medicare.gov

These coverage amounts are for 2023 and may change year over year.

Plan B
Hospital
Medical
Plan B
Hospital
Medical

Medicare Part B helps pay for medical care, including doctor office visits, lab tests and screenings, and some skilled nursing care at home, as well as the doctor services you receive when you are in the hospital.

Medicare Part B comes with a small deductible. You must also pay a monthly premium for Part B, which increases based on your income.

Medicare Pay
You Pay
80% of medical care costs (once deductible is met)
$226 deductible before Original Medicare starts to pay
$164.90 monthly premium
Prescription Drug Coverage: Varies by Plan*
20% of all medical care (once deductible is met)
Source:
Medicare.gov

These coverage amounts are for 2023 and may change year over year.

*Can vary based on income and potentially how long you’ve been enrolled in the Medicare program.

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