Trump's $90 Medicare payment: who gets the check and when

P resident Donald Trump announced Friday that more than 20 million Americans enrolled in Medicare Part B will receive a one-time $90 payment this month to help offset the cost of their Medicare premiums. The White House said the payments will come from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which was established by Congress in 2008 to finance improvements to Medicare's traditional fee-for-service program.

The administration said the fund has about $2 billion available and that the payments represent the first time it has been used to directly provide money to Medicare beneficiaries. Most eligible beneficiaries will receive the $90 through direct deposit in early October.

Those without direct deposit will receive a paper check at the mailing address they have registered with Medicare. CMS said the vast majority of eligible beneficiaries should receive their direct deposits around Oct. 8, with some paper checks arriving later in the month.

Trump announced the payment in a Friday night post on Truth Social, describing the recipients as "wonderful Seniors" and saying the money would help with Medicare Part B premiums . The announcement comes just weeks before the November midterm elections and amid a series of administration proposals and payments aimed at reducing health care costs or putting money back into Americans' hands.

Who qualifies for the $90 payment?

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the rebate is available to 20.8 million Americans enrolled in Original Medicare Part B who live in the United States and meet the program's eligibility requirements.

People whose Medicare premiums are already being paid by Medicaid are excluded. So are beneficiaries who pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, commonly known as IRMAA. Medicare Advantage enrollees are also not eligible for the payment.

The standard Medicare Part B premium in 2026 is $202.90 per month, meaning the $90 payment covers less than half of a standard monthly premium. For eligible seniors, however, the payment will arrive automatically rather than requiring a separate application. CMS said beneficiaries can call 1-800-MEDICARE at 1-800-633-4227 to check eligibility. Those seeking payment-status information can contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 beginning Oct. 15.

Where is the money coming from?

The payment is being funded through the Medicare Improvement Fund. The fund was created in 2008 to support improvements to Medicare Parts A and B. The White House says Congress p rovided approximately $2 billion for the fund but that no previous administration had used it to make direct payments to beneficiaries.

The Trump administration says previous congressional actions used money from the fund for other budget purposes. The White House specifically points to $20.7 billion that it says was withdrawn in connection with the Affordable Care Act in 2010.

Trump has argued that the money should instead be used to reduce costs for Medicare beneficiaries . The administration has also linked the payment to Trump's broader health care agenda, including efforts to reduce prescription-drug prices and other medical costs.

In announcing the checks, Trump said his administration was using the Medicare Improvement Fund along with his "Most Favored Nations" dru g-pricing agreements to lower costs for seniors. The White House has promoted those agreements as part of Trump's broader effort to bring U.S. prescription-drug prices closer to those paid in other countries.

Trump also used the announcement to renew his criticism of former President Joe Biden's administration and its handling of Medicare, Social Security and health care. Those political claims are disputed by Democrats, while the White House has presented the new payment as evidence that the administration is acting to reduce costs for seniors.