A hospital truth: If you are in the hospital under observation, you aren't under Medicare.
There is an assortment of reasons that you could stay at a hospital overnight and still not be covered under Medicare Part A.
According to Medicare.gov, suppose you go to the Emergency Room and the doctor sends you to the Intensive Care Unit so that you can be monitored closely. You stay the night, get better and go home the next day. That's not covered under Medicare Part A. Your doctor's services will be covered under Medicare Part B, but not your hospital expenses. Why? You haven't been admitted, you have just been observed. Thus, you are an outpatient.
Even if you stay for two days, the full two days may not be covered if you stay in the hospital. You must be admitted both days to have inpatient status. If one day is for observation, Medicare Part A will not pay. Medical Part B will pay for your doctor's services.
Outpatient surgery can sometimes result in a night in the hospital if, for example, your blood pressure is high. But if the doctor hasn't specifically written an order to admit you, then Medicare Part A still classifies you as an outpatient and will not pay. Medicare Part B will pay for doctor and outpatient tests but not the bed.
In some cases, a doctor may admit you but the hospital can change your status to outpatient. In that situation, your doctor must agree and the hospital must tell you in writing that you status has changed. Medicare Part A pays nothing. Medicare Part B pays doctor and outpatient services.
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