Here's a breakdown of what the four parts of Medicare cover (and don't cover), plus some other things that Medicare helps pay for. Medicare won't pay for 24-hour home care or for meals delivered to you at home. It also doesn't cover help for what are called “activities of daily living,” such as bathing, dressing, going to the bathroom, eating, or moving from one place to another in the house. Medicare generally doesn't cover routine eye exams or eyeglasses (exceptions include an annual eye exam if you have diabetes or eyeglasses after undergoing certain types of cataract surgery).
However, some Medicare Advantage plans provide eye coverage, or you may be able to purchase a separate supplemental policy that provides eye care. In addition, some Medicare Advantage plans cover emergency care abroad. Or you can buy a travel insurance policy that covers some medical expenses while you're outside the U.S. UU. It can even cover an emergency medical evacuation, whose transportation aboard a medical plane or helicopter can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
These coverage gaps can be filled with additional parts of Medicare, such as Medicaid, Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, or a PACE (Comprehensive Care Program for the Elderly) plan. It's important to understand that Medicare Part A and Part B leave some pretty significant gaps in your health care coverage. In general, Medicare Part A (also known as hospital insurance) can cover inpatient hospital care, care in nursing homes, care in nursing homes, palliative care, and home health care. Many Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage in addition to all the benefits provided by Original Medicare Parts A and B.
If you need health care services that aren't covered by Original Medicare, you might consider enrolling in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, Medigap or PACE. Some Medigap policies cover certain medical expenses abroad and generally pay 80 percent of the billed charges for specific medically necessary emergency care you receive outside the U.S. They also don't cover help for what are called “activities of daily living,” such as bathing, dressing, going to the bathroom, eating, or moving from one place to another in your home. Medicare Part B (also known as health insurance) provides coverage for preventive and medically necessary care services.
Some Medigap insurers allow you to add coverage for an additional premium or grant you membership in a dental discount program. Original Medicare covers certain types of long-term care after a qualifying hospitalization. The report concluded that, in those cases, Advantage insurance providers “used clinical criteria that are not included in the Medicare coverage rules.” For example, if you're still working and are covered by your employer-sponsored health coverage or that of your spouse, you may be able to wait. Check your proof of coverage or call Customer Service at the number on the back of your Humana ID card to confirm that your plan will cover the service. Medicare covers most of the healthcare needs of older Americans, from hospital care and doctor visits to laboratory tests and surgery.
A Medigap policy (Medicare supplement) or a Medicare Advantage plan can fill in the gaps if you don't have the supplemental coverage of a retirement health insurance policy.
