WITH DETAILED RATIONALES | LATEST VERSION PDF
Question 1:
Mr. Vasquez is in good health and is preparing a budget in anticipation of his retirement
when he turns 66. He wants to understand the health care costs he might be exposed to
under Medicare if he were hospitalized. In general terms, what could you tell him about
his costs for inpatient hospital services under Original Medicare?
A) There is no cost for the first 90 days of any hospital stay under Original Medicare.
B) Under Original Medicare, there is a single deductible amount due for the first 60 days
of any inpatient hospital stay, after which it converts into a per-day coinsurance amount
through day 90; after day 90, he pays a daily amount up to 60 lifetime reserve days, after
which he is responsible for all costs.
C) He pays a flat 20% coinsurance for all hospital services regardless of length of stay.
D) Original Medicare covers all inpatient costs after an annual deductible is met.
Answer: B
Rationale: Original Medicare Part A uses a benefit-period structure: a single deductible
covers days 1–60; daily coinsurance applies for days 61–90; 60 lifetime reserve days are
available beyond that with higher daily cost-sharing; after reserve days are exhausted, the
beneficiary pays all costs .
Question 2:
Mrs. Chen will be 65 soon, has been a citizen for twelve years, has been employed full
time, and paid taxes during that entire period. She is concerned that she will not qualify
for coverage under Part A because she was not born in the United States. What should
you tell her?
A) Mrs. Chen will not qualify for Medicare because she is a naturalized citizen.
B) Most individuals who are citizens and over age 65 are covered under Part A by virtue
of having paid Medicare taxes while working, regardless of where they were born.
C) She must wait until she is 70 to qualify for Medicare.
D) She must purchase Part A at full cost because she was not born in the U.S.
Answer: B
Rationale: Most individuals who are citizens and over age 65 are covered under Part A if
,they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters). Birth location
does not determine eligibility; citizenship and tax contributions matter .
Question 3:
Mr. Singh would like drug coverage but does not want to be enrolled in a Medicare
Advantage plan. What should you tell him?
A) He must switch to a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan for coverage.
B) Mr. Singh can enroll in a stand-alone prescription drug plan and continue to be
covered for Part A and Part B services through Original Fee-for-Service Medicare.
C) Drug coverage is only available through Medigap.
D) He cannot have drug coverage unless he enrolls in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Answer: B
Rationale: Beneficiaries who prefer Original Medicare may add drug coverage by enrolling
in a stand-alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) without joining a Medicare
Advantage plan .
Question 4:
A beneficiary enrolls in Medicare Part B for the first time. Which service is covered once
every 12 months at no cost if the provider accepts assignment?
A) Emergency room visit
B) Annual Wellness Visit
C) Cosmetic surgery
D) Routine dental cleaning
Answer: B
Rationale: Medicare Part B covers an Annual Wellness Visit once every 12 months after
eligibility requirements are met. The visit is designed to develop or update a personalized
prevention plan based on the beneficiary's current health and risk factors .
,Question 5:
Which statement about Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) is true?
A) They are available only once in a lifetime.
B) They may be available after certain qualifying life events.
C) Everyone receives one every year.
D) They only apply to Part A enrollment.
Answer: B
Rationale: Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) allow beneficiaries to make changes to their
Medicare coverage outside of standard enrollment periods due to qualifying life events
such as moving out of a plan's service area or involuntarily losing employer coverage .
Question 6:
What is a Medicare deductible?
A) Monthly premium amount
B) Maximum annual out-of-pocket cost
C) Amount the beneficiary generally pays before Medicare begins paying for certain
covered services
D) Provider reimbursement rate
Answer: C
Rationale: Deductibles are out-of-pocket amounts beneficiaries may pay before coverage
begins for certain services. For example, the Part B deductible for 2026 is $240, and the
Part A deductible is $1,676 .
Question 7:
Which of the following services is NOT covered under Medicare Part A?
A) Skilled nursing facility care
B) Hospice care
C) Home health services
D) Outpatient physical therapy
, Answer: D
Rationale: Outpatient physical therapy is covered under Medicare Part B, not Part A. Part
A primarily covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some
home health services .
Question 8:
What is the primary goal of Medicare Advantage plans?
A) Replace Original Medicare with private coverage that adds more out-of-pocket costs
B) Provide Medicare-covered benefits through private insurers that meet CMS standards
C) Eliminate Part D coverage entirely
D) Offer coverage only for hospital services
Answer: B
Rationale: Medicare Advantage plans deliver Medicare benefits via CMS-approved private
insurers, often with additional benefits like vision or dental .
Question 9:
Which of the following activities may indicate potential Medicare fraud?
A) Reviewing an Explanation of Benefits
B) Billing Medicare for services that were never provided
C) Receiving preventive care
D) Using generic medications
Answer: B
Rationale: Fraud involves intentional deception to obtain unauthorized payment or
benefit. Billing for services not rendered is a classic example of fraud. The Office of
Inspector General (OIG) investigates such cases .
Question 10:
Which beneficiary communication is generally prohibited for Medicare agents?