Key facts
- The U.S. government will send a one-time $90 payment to over 20 million Medicare enrollees.
- The payments are intended to help offset monthly medical insurance premiums.
- Funds for the payment will come from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which Congress allocated $2 billion to.
- Most eligible seniors will receive the payment via direct deposit in early October.
- Those without direct deposit will receive a check in early October.
President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. government will issue a one-time $90 payment to over 20 million seniors enrolled in Medicare. The funds, drawn from the Medicare Improvement Fund, are intended to help offset monthly insurance premium costs and are expected to be distributed via direct deposit or check in early October.
Trump stated on social media that the payments would come from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which he noted Congress had allocated $2 billion to for improving the Medicare fee-for-service program. The White House website provided details, indicating that most eligible seniors would receive the payment through direct deposit in early October. Those without direct deposit will receive a check.
This announcement follows other financial proposals made by Trump as the November midterm elections approach, where control of Congress is contested. Earlier, Trump proposed sending $5,000 checks to adult citizens if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate, a plan met with skepticism by analysts and some Republicans. The Trump administration is also separately distributing $500 refunds to nearly 1 million Americans for alleged excessive fees charged on the Affordable Care Act marketplace.