California Life and Health Insurance Practice Exam

Medicare Part A covers what type of care?

1. Outpatient care

2. Long-term care

3. Skilled nursing facility care

4. Home healthcare services

The correct answer is: Skilled nursing facility care

Medicare Part A is designed primarily to cover inpatient care and specific types of post-hospitalization care. This includes skilled nursing facility care, which provides necessary rehabilitation or skilled nursing services after a qualifying hospital stay. It is important to understand that skilled nursing facility care involves medically necessary services provided under the supervision of licensed nurses and can include therapies such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy. In contrast, outpatient care does not fall under Medicare Part A; instead, it is generally covered by Medicare Part B. Long-term care typically refers to services that support individuals with chronic illnesses or disabilities over an extended period, and this type of care is usually not covered by Medicare. Home healthcare services can sometimes be covered but often fall under the provisions of Medicare Part A depending on circumstances, such as if the patient is homebound and requires skilled nursing. Therefore, skilled nursing facility care is the most accurate type of care covered specifically by Medicare Part A.