New to Medicare: What’s the Difference Between Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B?

Medicare Part B helps pay for medical expenses, clinical laboratory services, and outpatient hospital treatment.

Medicare Part B

Medicare Part B helps pay for medical expenses, clinical laboratory services, and outpatient hospital treatment. In most cases, Medicare pays 80% of the cost of covered services, although some Part B-covered services also involve copayments.

Medical services covered by Part B include:

• abdominal aortic aneurysm screening

• ambulance services

• non-doctor services provided by physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and others

• occupational therapy

• outpatient hospital services

• outpatient medical and surgical services and supplies

• pap tests and pelvic exams

• your “Welcome to Medicare” physical exam

• physical therapy

• pneumococcal shot

• prostate cancer screenings

• prosthetic/orthotic items

• rural health clinic services

• second surgical opinions

• smoking cessation counseling

• speech-language pathology services

• surgical dressing services

• telehealth in certain situations

• tests including X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, EKGs, and some other diagnostic tests

• transplants and immunosuppressive drugs

• urgently-needed care

What Do I Pay for Medicare Part A and Part B Coverage?

• The vast majority of Medicare beneficiaries don’t have to pay a Part A premium because they covered this cost during their working years.

• The Part A deductible is currently set at $1,184 per benefit period. In certain situations you may be required to pay this amount two or more times in a single year.

• The Part B monthly premium for most Medicare beneficiaries is currently set at $104.90

• The Medicare Part B deductible is $147 annually.

Although Original Medicare Part A and Part B cover different services, both Part A and Part B involve a variety of out-of-pocket charges that can add up fast—unless you’re covered by certain Medicare supplement plans. Contact MedicareMall today to learn more about that!

Is there anything else you think readers need to know about Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B? Please leave a comment below!

What’s the Difference Between Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B?© 2012 MedicareMall.com