The first part of Medicare is Part A hospital insurance. This component of Medicare provides you with coverage for health care services administered within a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or hospice. In some cases, home health care services may also be covered.
To obtain Part A benefits, you must enroll in the program and pay the appropriate premiums. In some cases, you can qualify for premium-free Part A benefits. In order to qualify, you must have paid into Medicare taxes sufficiently. To determine whether your tax history qualifies you for premium-free Part A benefits, contact an insurance agent.