What is the primary purpose of the Medicare Part B coverage?

The primary purpose of Medicare Part B coverage is to provide coverage for outpatient services and medically necessary doctor visits. This important aspect of Medicare focuses on preventive care, diagnostic services, and outpatient treatments, allowing beneficiaries to access needed medical services without being admitted to a hospital. Part B helps cover the costs associated with a variety of services, including doctor visits, outpatient care, certain home health services, and preventive services, such as screenings and vaccinations.

In contrast, other options do not accurately represent the coverage provided by Part B. Hospital stays are primarily covered under Medicare Part A, which focuses on inpatient care. Hospice care, while it may be covered under different components of Medicare, is not the exclusive focus of Part B. Additionally, while Medicare does have a prescription drug program (Part D), it does not cover prescription drugs at full cost, so that option also does not align with the purpose of Medicare Part B.