Which of the following services does Original Medicare NOT cover?

Original Medicare, which consists of Part A and Part B, generally covers a range of health services for eligible individuals. However, one significant limitation is its lack of coverage for long-term custodial care. This type of care typically involves assistance with daily living activities, such as bathing, dressing, and eating, without the need for skilled medical care.

Original Medicare is designed to cover medically necessary services, which include inpatient hospital stays, outpatient care, and certain home health services when they are deemed medically necessary and ordered by a physician. Emergency medical services, outpatient diagnostic tests, and home health care, provided they meet specific criteria, are all covered under Original Medicare.

In contrast, long-term custodial care frequently takes place in nursing homes or requires assistance that is not related to acute medical conditions. As such, it is primarily funded through other means, such as Medicaid or private long-term care insurance, rather than through Original Medicare. This important distinction underscores the need for individuals to seek alternative coverage solutions if long-term custodial care is anticipated.