Medical Expense✓ Verified · outline & fact-checked · Sep 2026Difficulty 2/5
Medicare Part A is generally premium-free for a 65-year-old who:
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
Part A is premium-free for individuals who have earned at least 40 quarters of coverage (roughly 10 years) through work on which Medicare payroll taxes were paid. Those with 30 to 39 credits may buy Part A at a reduced monthly premium, and those with fewer than 30 credits (0-29) pay a higher monthly premium. Home ownership and Medicare Advantage enrollment have no effect on Part A premium status; MA enrollment actually requires Part A eligibility in the first place.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) Working any amount is not enough; the person must accumulate at least 40 credits to receive premium-free Part A. The 40-credit threshold is the statutory standard for premium-free Part A.
- C) Property ownership is irrelevant to Medicare eligibility and premium status. Home ownership is simply not a factor in Medicare eligibility or in premium-free Part A status whatsoever, unlike credits.
- D) Medicare Advantage enrollment presupposes Part A and B eligibility; it does not by itself make Part A premium-free. MA enrollment presupposes Part A and B eligibility first, not the reverse.
Memory hook
40 credits buy premium-free Part A; 30-39 buys a discount, and fewer than 30 buys the full premium.