Part A Hospital expense coverage provided under Medicare is automatically made available to which of the following? EXCEPT

• A. A 65-year-old who has paid Medicare taxes for 10 years
• B. A 70-year-old not eligible for Social Security
• C. A person with Railroad Retirement benefits
• D. A 65-year-old currently employed and contributing to Medicare payroll

Answer: (B)

Automatic eligibility for Medicare Part A typically kicks in when you’re 65 or older and you’re already entitled to Social Security benefits or Railroad Retirement benefits, or when you have enough Medicare‑covered work credits (at least 10 years) to qualify for premium‑free Part A. In practice, that means people who are already in the Social Security or Railroad Retirement system, or who have built the required work history, often become Part A automatically without needing to take extra steps.

The scenario of a 70-year-old who is not eligible for Social Security isn’t automatically covered under those triggers. Without Social Security or Railroad Retirement entitlement, and without a clear indication of sufficient work credits, automatic Part A enrollment wouldn’t apply. The other cases fit the automatic pathway: a 65-year-old with 10 years of Medicare‑taxed work qualifies for premium‑free Part A; a person with Railroad Retirement benefits is automatically covered; and a 65-year-old who’s still employed and contributing to Medicare payroll typically demonstrates the work history that supports automatic Part A eligibility.