Which statement is true about the Part A Medicare hospital coverage eligibility?

• A. It is automatically available to people who have paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years
• B. It is automatically available to anyone who reaches 65
• C. It requires enrollment in Part B for activation
• D. It is only available to individuals who are currently employed

Answer: (A)

Part A hospital coverage is premium-free for most people who earned Medicare payroll taxes for a substantial period. The key idea is that eligibility is based on work credits earned from paying Medicare taxes—about 10 years (40 quarters) of work. If you’ve reached that threshold, you’re automatically eligible for Part A, typically at no monthly premium. You don’t have to be currently employed to have Part A active, and enrollment in Part B is separate from Part A. If you don’t have enough work credits, you can still get Part A by paying a premium, but that’s not automatic premium-free eligibility. So, the statement that Part A is automatically available to people who have paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years is true.