Medical Expense✓ Verified · outline & fact-checked · Sep 2026Difficulty 3/5
A beneficiary who has accumulated only 35 work credits under Social Security is not 'fully insured.' As a result, this individual:
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
Medicare Part A is premium-free for individuals who are fully insured under Social Security, which generally requires 40 work credits. Beneficiaries who are not fully insured must pay a monthly Part A premium, and the amount depends on their credit count: those with 30 through 39 credits pay a reduced monthly premium, while those with 0 through 29 credits pay a higher premium. A beneficiary with 35 credits falls in the 30 to 39 credit band and therefore must pay the reduced monthly Part A premium. This credit-tier structure is stated in the eligibility material for AH-III.D.1b.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) A person with 35 credits is not fully insured but remains eligible for Part A; the code simply requires a monthly premium.
- C) Premium-free Part A requires 40 or more credits, so a 35-credit beneficiary cannot receive Part A at no charge.
- D) Both premium-free Part A and premium-free Part B would require full insured status, which this beneficiary lacks.
Memory hook
40 credits buy free Part A; 30-39 and 0-29 credit tiers pay premiums.