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MEDICARE - How Medicare Works Services Covered under Medicare Part A Inpatient hospitalization care Limited post-hospital skilled nursing care Home health care Hospice care Services Covered under Medicare Part B Doctors’ services Outpatient hospital care Occupational/physical/speech therapy Medical supplies/equipment Ambulance transportation (limited) Chiropractic services (limited) X-rays/lab tests Certain preventive care   Medicare was enacted to provide a safety net of health-care coverage for qualifying individuals. Medicare is comprised of two distinct parts. Part A provides hospital insurance protection and Part B provides medical insurance protection.   Medicare Part A pays for inpatient hospital care, post-hospital skilled nursing care, home health care and hospice care. If you receive services under Part A, chances are you will not have to pay anything other than the deductible, since you have already paid through Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) payroll tax withholdings. If you need to go back to the hospital after 60 days or more from the last discharge date, another deductible will have to be paid. Medicare Part A covers up to 90 days of hospital services in each “benefit period,” and an additional 60 lifetime days.   Part B Medical Insurance covers doctors’ fees, lab fees, home health care services, hospital outpatient services and other medical services or items not covered under Part A. When you apply for Part A Medicare, you are automatically enrolled in Part B. You have the option to turn down Part B, however, by notifying the Social Security Administration. If you decide to turn down Part B, you may incur a penalty if you decide to accept Part B at a later date. Monthly premiums are automatically deducted from your Social Security check unless the Social Security Administration (SSA) has been informed otherwise.   There are two ways that Medicare beneficiaries can access services. The traditional fee-for-service delivery system where you visit a hospital/doctor of your choice and pay a fee for services rendered is one way to receive services. The other way to receive health care is to join a Medicare Advantage plan. These are private managed care organizations such as health maintenance organizations (HMOs) or preferred provider organizations (PPOs) who have a contract with Medicare.   Under both systems Medicare coverage is the same; however, the delivery of benefits, the method of payment, and the amount of out-of-pocket money is different. Most people currently use the fee-for-service approach. Fee-for-service users usually supplement their Medicare plans with Medigap insurance or with retiree coverage from their employers or unions.   The number of people electing to receive Medicare benefits through Medicare Advantage plans, which generally require less out-of-pocket expense than Original Medicare, is on the rise. If you are approaching the eligibility age for Medicare, you should give careful consideration to Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage service delivery options. Your choice should be influenced by several factors including: any retiree coverage that you have from previous employment, your financial situation and future lifestyle and retirement plans.