Part A is Hospital Insurance. Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital care, time in a skilled nursing care facility, certain home health, and hospice care. The majority of Part A enrollees do not have to pay a monthly fee (premium) to be covered under this part of Original Medicare.

Medicare Part A does not cover the full amount of your hospital bill. You will share in the cost. You must pay a deductible before Medicare benefits begin. Medicare will then pay 100 percent of the cost up to 60 days in a hospital or up to 20 days in a skilled nursing facility. After that, you pay a flat amount up to the maximum covered days. Your Medicare benefits cover a total of 150 days in a hospital and 100 days in a skilled nursing facility.

Part B is Medical Insurance. Part B of Medicare benefits covers non-hospital medical expenses like doctors’ office visits, blood tests, X-rays and outpatient hospital care. You pay a monthly fee (premium) for this part of Original Medicare. The fee can be higher for people with high incomes. Medicaid could also help cover your part B premium in most cases.

You share the costs for your medical care. You’ll pay a small deductible each year before your Part B Medicare benefits begin. Then you generally pay 20 percent of the bill when you go to a doctor who accepts Medicare. Medicare pays 100 percent of the cost of lab services that help your doctor make a diagnosis.