WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Friday that the federal government will send one-time payments of $90 to more than 20 million Medicare Part B enrollees this month to help offset premium costs.
The money will come from the Medicare Improvement Fund, created by Congress in 2008 and allocated $2 billion for improvements to the traditional Medicare fee-for-service program.
White House officials said the fund had never been used for direct payments to beneficiaries until now.
Most eligible seniors will receive the funds by direct deposit in early October. Those without direct deposit will get a mailed check at the address registered with Medicare.
Trump posted on Truth Social late Friday: “I am pleased to announce that my Administration will, immediately, begin sending ‘Checks’ of nearly $100 to over 20 MILLION wonderful Seniors to help pay for their Medicare Part B premiums, which we have already reduced by significant amounts.
This money will come from the Medicare Improvement Fund, a pointless ‘Slush Fund’ that has only been used by Dumocrats in Congress to pay for the Waste, Fraud, and Abuse for their Special Interest friends, and drive up Healthcare costs.”
Eligibility Rules and How Payments Will Reach Seniors
Most Medicare Part B enrollees qualify. Those whose premiums are already paid fully by Medicaid are excluded, as are beneficiaries who pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount based on higher income.
The standard 2026 Part B premium is $202.90 per month, up $17.90 from 2025, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Seniors can verify eligibility by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Those seeking status updates on a payment should contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213.
The White House fact sheet released Friday stated that payments total roughly $1.8 billion based on the number of expected recipients.
White House Frames Move as First Use of Long-Idle Fund
The administration described the action as historic. “With this action, President Trump is the first President to ever use the Medicare Improvement Fund to directly lower costs for senior citizens,” the fact sheet said.
Officials noted that prior Congresses had redirected money from the fund, including $20.7 billion taken during passage of the Affordable Care Act.
Trump tied the payments to broader efforts to reduce healthcare costs, citing “Most Favored Nations Deals” on drug pricing. He also linked the announcement to a separate set of $500 refunds already planned for nearly 1 million people who bought coverage on the federal Affordable Care Act exchange.
Those refunds stem from what the White House calls excess user fees collected under the prior administration.
Separate From Larger Dividend Proposal Tied to Midterms
Trump closed his Truth Social post by repeating a conditional pledge: “Because I delivered on this very important issue for the American People, they can also rest assured the highly popular $5,000 Trump Dividend will be distributed to every U.S. Citizen if, and when, the Republicans win the Midterm Elections!”
Control of the House and Senate is at stake in the November elections. Some analysts and Republican lawmakers have expressed skepticism about the fiscal scale of any nationwide $5,000 payment.
The $90 Medicare payments are one-time only and do not change the underlying Part B premium formula. Medicare Part B covers physician services, outpatient care, preventive services and durable medical equipment. Premiums are deducted from Social Security benefits for most enrollees.
The announcement came as Trump returned to Washington from a campaign rally in Mobile, Alabama. It arrives roughly five weeks before the midterms and follows earlier administration moves on drug pricing and insurance fees.
Beneficiaries are advised to watch bank accounts or mailboxes in the coming days. No application is required; payments will be issued automatically to those determined eligible based on Medicare records.
