U.S. Office of Personnel Management

The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and Medicare

 What Does Medicare Cover?

Original Medicare has two parts:

Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps pay for:

• inpatient hospital care

• skilled nursing facility care

• home health care

• hospice care

Part B (Medical Insurance) helps pay for:

• doctors' services

• outpatient hospital care

• x-rays and laboratory tests

• durable medical equipment and supplies

• home health care (if you don't have Part A)

• certain preventive care

• limited ambulance transportation

• other outpatient services

• some other medical services Part A doesn't cover, such as physical and occupational therapy

Medicare does not cover:

• Your monthly Part B premium ($54.00 in 2002)

• deductibles, coinsurance or copayments when you get health care services

• outpatient prescription drugs (with only a few exceptions)

• routine or yearly physical exams

• custodial care (help with bathing, dressing, toileting, and eating) at home or in a nursing home

• most dental care and dentures

• routine foot care

• hearing aids

• routine eye care

• health care you get while traveling outside of the United States (except under limited circumstances)

• cosmetic surgery

• some vaccinations

• orthopedic shoes

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