Medical Expense✓ Verified · outline & fact-checked · Sep 2026Difficulty 1/5
A lawful permanent resident who is not a U.S. citizen may become eligible for Medicare Part A at age 65 only if the person:
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
Medicare eligibility for a lawful permanent resident who is not a citizen requires at least 5 years of continuous residence in the United States, in addition to meeting the insured-status (work credit) requirements or qualifying to buy into Part A. The 5-year residency rule is the statutory test the exam expects. A green card alone, sponsorship, or a brief tax-paying history does not satisfy the residency and insured-status requirements. The 5-year residency test is a distinct statutory requirement for non-citizens.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) A green card alone is not enough; the 5-year continuous residence requirement must also be met. Continuous residence in the U.S. for at least five years is the additional statutory condition for Part A.
- C) Sponsorship is an immigration-law concept and plays no role in the Medicare residency test. Sponsorship is an immigration-law concept with no role in Medicare's Part A eligibility rules whatsoever.
- D) A single year of tax payments is far short of the statutory standard; Part A turns on 5 years' residence plus credits or buy-in. The statutory standard is residence and credits, not taxes.
Memory hook
Five years on U.S. soil earns a lawful resident a Medicare welcome. Green card alone? Not yet.