Which services are covered under Medicare Part A rather than Part B?
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why B is correct
Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care following a hospital stay, home health care, and hospice care. It does not cover physician and surgeon services, which fall under Part B, along with outpatient services, laboratory tests, preventive screenings, and durable medical equipment. The Part A hospital versus Part B physician split is one of the most basic Medicare distinctions on the exam. Part A and Part B split along the inpatient and outpatient boundary. Part A funds institutional care such as hospitals and skilled nursing facilities plus hospice and qualifying home health, while Part B funds physicians, outpatient services, labs, durable medical equipment, and preventive care.
Why the other options are wrong
- C) Physician office visits are covered under Part B, after the Part B deductible, not Part A. Physician office visits are covered under Medicare Part B, not Part A, which funds institutional and facility-based care.
- D) Outpatient laboratory tests are Part B services. Outpatient laboratory tests are a Part B service, so they belong to the medical insurance side of Medicare. The Part B deductible and 20 percent coinsurance apply before the program pays its share.
- A) Preventive screenings are covered under Part B. Preventive screenings are covered under Part B, not under Part A's hospital insurance program. Medicare covers screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies through Part B's preventive benefit.
Memory hook
Part A builds the hospital bed; Part B pays the doctor's visit.