This and succeeding sections outline the coverage for "Original Medicare" Part A (Hospital Insurance), Part B (Medical Insurance); Part C ("Medigap"/Supplemental Insurance); Part D (Prescription Drugs); and common Medicare Advantage Plans.

Since the topic includes many details and options we have presented the basics to help you understand the coverage. Please research all the details applicable to your location, in more depth, before selecting and enrolling in a specific Plan.

Part A (Hospital Insurance) Covered Services

• Blood: Starting with the 4th pint of blood you get at a hospital or skilled nursing facility during a covered stay. The first three pints are not covered.
   
• Home Health Services: Limited to reasonable and necessary part time or intermittent skilled care or continuing need for physical therapy, or speech-related pathology, ordered by the doctor and provided by a Medicare-certified home health agency. Home health services may also include medical social services, durable medical equipment (such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, oxygen, and walkers), and medical supplies for use at home.
   
• Hospice Care: For people with a terminal illness who are expected to live 6 months or less if the disease runs its normal course. Coverage includes drugs, medicinal and support services from a Medicare approved hospice, and other services not otherwise covered by Medicare (such as grief counseling) for terminal and related conditions. Hospice care is usually given in your home (or other facility where you may live). Medicare covers some short-term inpatient stays (for pain and symptom management) and inpatient respite care (care given to a hospice patient so that the usual caregiver can rest).
   
• Hospital Stays: Semi-private room, meals, general nursing, and other hospital services and supplies. This includes inpatient you get in acute care hospitals, critical access hospitals, inpatient care as part of a clinical research study, and mental health care. This doesn't include private-duty nursing or a television or telephone in your room. It also doesn't include a private room unless medically necessary. Inpatient mental health care in a psychiatric hospital is limited to 190 days in a lifetime.
   
• Skilled Nursing Facility Care: Semi-private room, meals, skilled nursing and rehabilitative services, and other services and supplies (only after a 3-day minimum inpatient hospital stay for a related illness or injury) for up to 100 days in a benefit period. To get care in a skilled nursing facility, you must need skilled care like intravenous injections or physical therapy. Medicare doesn't cover long-term care or custodial care in this setting.