Medicare Part A is NOT Free

We commonly hear people refer to Medicare Part A as “free.” Medicare Part A is indeed premium free for most Americans because American workers pay payroll taxes to fund Medicare Part A. 

Medicare Part A is only premium free if you paid Medicare payroll taxes the required forty quarters to earn it or were married for about ten years to someone who earned premium free Part A on their work record. Part A can also be premium free in the case of disability or dual Medicaid and Medicare eligibility. 

Those who must pay for Part A either pay $565 per month or $6,780 annually in 2026 or the lesser amount of $311 per month or $3,732 annually for those who worked between 30 and 39 quarters. People in this category often have inherited wealth and didn’t have to work, immigrated to the US after their earning years, or married someone from outside the United States who never paid payroll taxes in the US.

It’s important to be precise when discussing how we pay for Medicare, because in one way or another, almost everyone pays. 

Thank you.