FAQ: Hospital Observation Care Can Be Poorly Understood And Costly For Medicare Beneficiaries
By Susan Jaffe | September 4, 2013 | KAISER HEALTH NEWS
Some seniors think Medicare made a mistake. Others are just stunned when they find out that being in a hospital for days doesn’t always mean they were actually admitted.![observation-care KHN Sept 2013](https://i1.wp.com/susanjaffe.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/observation-care-khn-sept-2013.jpg?resize=246%2C172)
Instead, they received observation care, considered by Medicare to be an outpatient service. Yet, a recent government investigation found that observation patients often have the same health problems as those who are admitted. But the observation designation means they can have higher out-of-pocket expenses and fewer Medicare benefits. Here are some common questions and answers about observation care and the coverage gap that can result. [Continued here]