Medical Expense✓ Verified · outline & fact-checked · Sep 2026Difficulty 2/5
A person who has worked enough to be eligible for Medicare but has only 30 to 39 quarters of coverage will, for Part A hospital insurance:
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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 most beneficiaries because they have at least 40 quarters of Medicare-covered employment. Workers with fewer quarters still have Medicare eligibility but must pay a Part A premium, and the premium is tiered by work history: a person with 30 to 39 quarters pays a reduced monthly Part A premium, while a person with 0 to 29 quarters pays a higher premium. The credit-based tier structure is a specific Medicare eligibility fact tested on the A&H exam.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) Premium-free Part A requires 40 or more quarters of coverage; a 30-to-39-quarter worker pays a reduced premium.
- C) The two tiers are not the same price; 30-39 quarters carries a reduced premium and 0-29 quarters a higher one.
- D) A person with 30-39 quarters is eligible for Part A; eligibility is not lost, the worker simply pays a premium.
Memory hook
Part A premium ladder: 40 quarters free, 30-39 cheap, 0-29 expensive. Your work history sets your ticket price.