You need 40 credits, or about 10 years of working and paying FICA taxes, to qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A. If you’re married, you may qualify if you haven’t earned enough work credits as long as your spouse has.

Work credits are how Medicare measures work time when deciding who qualifies for premium-free Medicare benefits.

Medicare work credits record the amount of time you’ve worked while also paying Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare.

Read on to learn what a work credit is, how many you need to be eligible for Medicare, and more.

A work credit is a 3-month period of time (1 quarter) worked while paying into the Social Security and Medicare system. The Social Security Administration has several terms that refer to work credits and counting them, such as:

  • work quarter
  • quarter of coverage
  • Social Security credits

You do not need work credits to enroll in Medicare Part B or to buy additional insurance, such as:

How many years are 40 credits for Social Security?

To qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), you need 40 credits, which represents about 10 years of working.

If you don’t have enough credits, you can still enroll in Medicare Part A but may have to pay the Part A premium.

In 2024, the premium for Medicare Part A is $505 each month if you have less than 30 credits and $278 if you have 30 to 39 credits (or 7.5 to 10 years).

Typically, if you choose to buy Part A, you must also enroll in Medicare Part B and pay premiums for both Part A and Part B. In 2024, the standard Part B premium amount is $174.70. You may pay more, though, depending on your current income.

Whether or not you have enough credits for premium-free Medicare Part A, you still have to meet basic Medicare eligibility requirements, including:

  • being 65 years old or over
  • being a U.S. citizen or a permanent legal resident who has lived in the United States for a minimum of 5 years

If you don’t have enough credits, your spouse’s work record may qualify you for premium-free Medicare. To qualify this way, you must be 65 or older, and your spouse must be at least 62.

You may also qualify on the work record of a spouse you’ve divorced or who has passed away.

You can enroll in Medicare Part B without having Part A. As long as you’re enrolled in either Part A or Part B, or both, you can get Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage).

However, if you want a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan, you must be enrolled in both Medicare parts A and B. Together, parts A and B are known as original Medicare.

You can try using the Medicare eligibility and premium calculator to discover what you might expect to pay. Just enter your date of birth and answer a few yes or no questions, such as:

  • Have you worked for at least 10 years during which you paid Medicare taxes?
  • Do you live in the United States or one of its territories?

Once you’ve answered the questions, you’ll receive information about your eligibility, initial enrollment period, and more.

When you work, FICA taxes are withheld from your paycheck. These taxes are your contribution to the Medicare and Social Security programs that you can access when you become eligible at age 65.

Every quarter (3 months) you pay into the system counts as a credit. To get Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) without paying a premium, you need 40 credits in total.

If you have fewer than 30 credits, you may have to pay a premium of $505 per month for Medicare Part A in 2024. If you have 30 to 39 credits, the standard Part A premium is $278.

Some exceptions may allow you to get premium-free Medicare Part A even if you don’t have enough credits, including if your spouse meets the requirements.

For detailed information on your eligibility, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227).

Medicare plan options and costs are subject to change each year.