Medicare
Medicare covers services (like lab tests, surgeries, and doctor visits) and supplies (like wheelchairs and walkers) considered medically necessary to treat a disease or condition.
Please refer to www.medicare.gov for more information.
Medicare Part A
In general, Part A covers:
- Hospital care
- Skilled nursing facility care
- Nursing home care (as long as custodial care isn't the only care you need)
- Hospice
- Home health services
Please note even if a beneficiary is not eligible for Social Security benefits, he or she may be eligible for Medicare Part A. If Part A is available at no cost, a beneficiary must enroll in it to be eligible for HPRS health care benefits.
Medicare Part B
In general, Part B covers two types of services:
- Medically necessary services: Services or supplies that are needed to diagnose or treat your medical condition and that meet accepted standards of medical practice.
- Preventative services: Health care to prevent illness (like the flu) or detect it an an early stage, when treatment is most likely to work best.
- Part B covers things like:
- Clinical research
- Ambulance services
- Durable medical equiment (DME)
- Mental health
- Second opinion before surgery
- Limited outpatient prescription drugs
All beneficiaries are eligible for Medicare Part B at age 65. The cost of Part B is either deducted from your Social Security check or you have to make a direct payment to Social Security. All beneficiaries who are eligible for Part B must enroll in it to be eligible for HPRS health care benefits.
Medicare Part D
In general, Part D covers prescription drugs.
Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage programs are sometimes referred to as Part C. This is
a plan offered by a private company approved by Medicare that incorporates Medicare Parts A, B, and D coverage into a comprehensive plan.
For a brief explanation of other benefits, click on any item listed below: