Choosing the right Medicare health plan is one of the most important decisions you can make. But, sorting through all the different plans can be confusing. We're here to help!

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Medicare is a government-backed social insurance program for people aged 65 and over administered by the U.S. Government. The program consists of several parts, including Medicare Part A. Part A is a specific type of hospital insurance which is provided by Medicare. Medicare Plan A benefits includes coverage for inpatient care, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, and critical access hospitals, according to Medicare.gov. However, Medicare Plan A does not cover certain non-hospital procedures or care, such as long-term home car or custodial nursing care. This type of coverage is only available in specialized circumstances. This section will discuss eligibility and specific benefits of Medicare.

Many Americans are more familiar with Medicare Part B, which is available for all Americans aged 65 or older, based on citizenship and residency requirements. Medicare Part A is similar in its eligibility, in that you need to meet residency and citizenship requirements, but you are only eligible for the so-called "premium-free Part A" is only available to those people aged 65 or older who have paid Medicare taxes while working. You can purchase Medicare Plan A benefits if you did not pay Medicare taxes if you are also entitled to Part B coverage or if your premium-free Part A coverage was ended because you returned to work.

You may also be interested in purchasing Medigap Plan A insurance, which is a type of private insurance that helps you pay costs that your Medicare may not cover. Also called supplemental insurance, Medigap Plan A coverage supplements your basic Medicare plan. You are responsible for paying costs associated with these plans, as they are not covered by Medicare.

Medicare Part A generally covers anything associated with hospital inpatient care, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. You want to be aware of your status as an inpatient or outpatient if you visit the hospital, because there are large differences in Medicare's ability to pay for different inpatient and outpatient procedures. Medicare Plan A benefits include inpatient care in hospitals, such as critical access hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation centers, and long-term care hospital facilities; inpatient care in skilled nursing facilities, hospice, home healthcare services, and any inpatient care in what Medicare terms a "Religious Nonmedical Health Care Institution." Be aware of your patient status in a hospital and be familiar with what your Medicare Part A policy covers in either instance.

It is also important to know that you can drop your Medicare Supplement policy, but you may not be able to get the same, or any, Medicare Supplement insurance plan back again. Evaluate your options carefully.

Medicare Part A Basics from Medicare.gov.

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Even though all plans are the same, costs can vary from each insurance company. Make sure you compare carefully. To start shopping for your plan, enter your zip code in the box at the top of the page.