Medical Expense✓ Verified · outline & fact-checked · Sep 2026Difficulty 1/5
An individual who has earned 30 to 39 work credits (quarters of coverage) and enrolls in Medicare Part A at age 65 will:
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
Premium-free Medicare Part A requires 40 work credits, roughly ten years of covered employment. A person who has earned 30 to 39 credits is still entitled to Part A at age 65 but must pay a reduced monthly premium, while a person with fewer than 30 credits pays a higher monthly premium. The credit tiers directly control the Part A premium amount, so the individual with 30 to 39 credits pays a reduced premium — not the full rate and not nothing. Option A correctly states the premium outcome for this credit range.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) Any work history is not enough; the 40-credit threshold governs premium-free Part A, so most short or part-time work histories still trigger a premium. The 40-credit threshold is the statutory test for premium-free Part A, and shorter histories fall short.
- C) The premium varies by credit count: 40 credits yields free Part A, 30-39 credits yields a reduced premium, and under 30 credits yields a higher premium, so the amounts differ. Each credit tier carries its own premium outcome, so the amounts are not identical across tiers.
- D) Part A coverage begins at age 65 once eligibility is met; there is no rule that delays Part A enrollment to age 70 based on the number of work credits. Eligibility begins at 65 for covered individuals, with no artificial delay to age 70.
Memory hook
40 credits = free Part A. 30-39 = a discount. Under 30 = full freight. Count your quarters.