Taking Care of Mom and Dad: Medicare Part A

Medicare Part A covers inpatient care in a hospital and skilled nursing facility care after a hospital stay. It covers home health care and hospice care. It pays for whole blood or units of packed cells, after the first three pints during a covered stay in a hospital or nursing facility. In addition, it pays 80 percent of durable medical equipment -- such as wheelchairs and walkers -- when approved.

In its current form, just about every working person will be eligible for Medicare coverage at age 65. Ordinarily, your parents' Medicare cards will be mailed to them three months before they reach their 65th birthdays and coverage begins on the first day of the month in which they each turn 65.

If one or both of your parents is disabled and receiving benefits for 24 months, their cards will be automatically mailed as well. However, if they're not receiving retirement benefits, they must apply directly to the Social Security Administration (which may direct them to other agencies, depending on their work histories). They're also eligible for benefits if they are:

• a disabled person who has been receiving Social Security disability benefits for at least 24 months;
• a person who is diagnosed as having permanent kidney failure that requires dialysis or a kidney transplant;
• an individual born prior to 1909 who has no quarters of coverage under Social Security; or
• a retired railroad worker.

Be sure you -- and your parents -- know the vital dates for getting Medicare coverage in place. They should apply for the benefits at least three months before they reach 65, to avoid any delays in coverage. They only have seven months to enroll, beginning three months prior to their 65th birthdays; otherwise, they'll have to wait until the following January 1 to enroll. And, in that case, their benefits won't kick in until July 1.

If your parents don't qualify for Medicare hospital insurance (they never worked or had a spouse who worked, etc.), they can buy coverage for a monthly premium. If they take this route, they must also enroll in Part B Medicare, live in the United States and be either a citizen or a lawfully admitted alien.