This part provides general information about early Medicare coverage. For a more complete explanation of the Medicare program, please refer to booklet RB-20, "Medicare for Railroad Workers and Their Families".
Medicare is the Federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older and certain disabled people. One part of Medicare (Part A) provides Hospital Insurance benefits. Another part (Part B) provides Medical Insurance.
Hospital Insurance helps pay for:
- medically necessary inpatient hospital care,
- inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility, and
- care in your home by a home health agency.
Medical Insurance helps pay for:
- medically necessary doctors' services,
- outpatient hospital services,
- outpatient physical therapy and speech pathology services, and
- several other medical services and supplies that are not covered by the Hospital Insurance part of Medicare.