You're closing in on 65, and you've heard Medicare Part A is free. For about 99% of people it is, because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters, roughly 10 years of work.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles If your count comes up short, you can still get Part A by buying in, and what you pay depends on how many quarters you did earn.
In This Guide
- Key Takeaways
- How Many Work Credits You Need for Free Medicare Part A
- If You Fall Short: Buying Into Part A
- How Many Work Credits You Have Toward Free Medicare Part A
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Learn More
How Many Work Credits You Need for Free Medicare Part A
The number to remember is 40. If you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters, which is about 10 years, you get Medicare Part A with no monthly premium.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles Part A is the hospital insurance side of Medicare, the part that helps cover inpatient stays, so getting it for $0 is a real break.
This is why Part A feels free to almost everyone. About 99% of Medicare beneficiaries pay no Part A premium, because most people cross that 40-quarter line over a normal working life.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles
One quick vocabulary note, because two different words get used for the same thing. What Medicare calls a "quarter of coverage" is what most people call a "work credit." So 40 quarters, 40 credits, and about 10 years of Medicare-covered work all describe the same finish line.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles
If You Fall Short: Buying Into Part A
Not everyone reaches 40 quarters. Maybe you spent years in work that didn't pay into Medicare, or you moved to the United States and started working here later in life. If that's you, you can still get Part A. You may just have to pay a monthly premium for it, and there are two price tiers depending on how many quarters you did earn.
If you have 30 to 39 quarters, you can buy into Part A at a reduced premium of $311 per month in 2026.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles If you have fewer than 30 quarters, the full Part A premium is $565 per month in 2026.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles The more you paid in, the less you pay now.
| Quarters of Medicare-covered work | 2026 monthly Part A premium |
|---|---|
| 40 or more (about 10+ years) | $0, premium-freeCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles |
| 30 to 39 quarters | $311Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles |
| Fewer than 30 quarters | $565Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles |
If you land in one of the paid tiers, it's worth reading up on the buy-in and the programs that can help cover it before you sign up, since paying the full $565 a month out of pocket is a lot for most households.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles A Medicare Savings Program, for example, can pay the Part A premium for people who qualify.U.S. Social Security Administration. (2026). SSA - POMS: HI 00815.023 - Medicare Savings Programs Income and Resource Limits - 02/26/2026. secure.ssa.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0600815023
How Many Work Credits You Have Toward Free Medicare Part A
You don't have to have earned all those credits yourself. Eligibility for premium-free Part A can be based on your own work record or a spouse's.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles So if you stayed home or worked jobs that didn't pay into Medicare, but your husband or wife put in their 40 quarters, you can qualify on their record.
The same logic reaches the buy-in tiers. If you were married to someone with at least 30 quarters of coverage, you can buy into Part A at the reduced $311 rate in 2026 rather than the full $565.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles Because the rules around a current, former, or late spouse's record can get specific, it's smart to confirm your exact situation with Social Security rather than assume.
Not sure how many quarters you have? The Social Security Administration is the agency that tracks your quarters of coverage, and it's the one that tells Medicare whether you qualify for premium-free Part A.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles You can check your own earnings and credits in your Social Security record ahead of time, so you're not guessing when you turn 65. If the count comes back short, you still have options: keep working to add quarters if you're able, see whether a spouse's record gets you there, or plan for the buy-in premium and look into help paying it.
This all applies to Part A. Medicare Part B, the outpatient side, carries its own monthly premium that almost everyone pays regardless of work history, and that's true whether you get your coverage through Original Medicare, a Medicare Advantage plan, or add a Medigap policy on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many work credits do I need for free Medicare Part A?
Generally 40 quarters, which is about 10 years of Medicare-covered work, and a "quarter of coverage" is the same as a "work credit." Reach 40 and you get premium-free Part A. About 99% of Medicare beneficiaries qualify this way, and the credits can come from your own work or a spouse's.
What if I only have 30 to 39 quarters?
You can still get Part A, but you'd buy into it at a reduced premium of $311 per month in 2026 instead of getting it for free. The same reduced rate applies if you were married to someone with at least 30 quarters of coverage.
What does Part A cost if I have fewer than 30 quarters?
The full Part A premium, which is $565 per month in 2026. That's the top tier, paid by people who don't have enough Medicare-covered work on their own or a spouse's record to reach a lower tier.
Can I get free Part A on my spouse's work record?
Yes. Eligibility for premium-free Part A can be based on your own record or a spouse's, so if your spouse earned at least 40 quarters, you can qualify on theirs. Because the rules around a current, former, or late spouse can be specific, confirm the details with Social Security.
Does everyone pay a premium for Medicare Part A?
No. About 99% of Medicare beneficiaries pay $0 for Part A because they have at least 40 quarters of Medicare-covered work. Only people short of 40 quarters pay a premium, at either the $311 or $565 monthly rate in 2026.
Learn More
Find personalized help figuring out whether you qualify for premium-free Part A at brevy.com.
The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.