Who is eligible for Original Medicare?

Original Medicare primarily serves specific demographics, making option B the correct choice. To qualify, individuals must generally be 65 years of age or older. Additionally, those under 65 can also be eligible if they have certain disabilities, such as receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for a specified period, or if they have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

The other options do not accurately capture the eligibility criteria for Original Medicare. For example, simply being over the age of 55 does not satisfy the qualifications, as eligibility specifically begins at 65. Chronic diseases alone do not determine eligibility for Original Medicare; rather, it is tied to age or disability status. Lastly, the requirement regarding payment into Medicare necessitates at least 10 years of contributions to qualify for premium-free Part A, making it inaccurate to assert that anyone who has paid in for fewer than 10 years can qualify for Original Medicare.