Updated October 6, 2026, 2:16 p.m. ET
Millions of seniors are expected to receive $90 government-funded checks in the coming days thanks to an initiative launched by President Donald Trump.
Many Medicare B enrollees in all 50 states are expected to receive the one-time payments early this month, the White House announced Oct. 2.
The checks, which are paid from a fund set aside by Congress in 2008, are intended to help eligible Medicare enrollees pay Part B premiums.
Trump announced the reduction because affordability and high costs are a priority for many midterm voters. The president has turned to sending money directly to Americans with just weeks before the election and partisan control of Congress at stake.
On September 30, his administration began sending $500 checks to nearly a million Americans in 30 states who it said were being overcharged by fees related to the federal Affordable Care Act exchange for purchasing health insurance.
Trump also pledged to distribute $5,000 in dividends to all American adults if Republicans maintain control of Congress through the midterms — an offer that critics called a vote-getting bribe.
Here’s what you need to know about the $90 checks.
Who gets $90 Medicare checks?
The $90 payments are intended for more than 20 million Medicare B enrollees in all 50 states, with the most populous states receiving the most checks, according to a breakdown of the payments reviewed by the White House by USA TODAY.
People whose health care premiums are already paid by Medicaid or who pay an income-related monthly adjustment amount are not eligible for the $90, the White House said.
Seniors who wish to verify their eligibility for the rebate can call 1-800-633-4227.
Below is a state-by-state breakdown detailing where Trump’s $90 checks for seniors are going, according to the White House:
When will Medicare enrollees receive $90 checks?
The majority of eligible seniors will receive their payment via direct deposit from the Social Security Administration around Oct. 8, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Those who don’t have direct deposit will receive a paper check to the address they have on file with Medicare later in October. The check will come from the United States Department of the Treasury and will be titled “Medicare Improvement Fund Payment; $90 payment to offset October premium,” according to CMS.
To check payment status, eligible beneficiaries can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213.
How are $90 checks funded?
To finance these payments, the Trump administration is diverting money from the $2 billion Medicare Improvement Fund, created by Congress in 2008 to improve Medicare services.
Trump called the fund a “useless slush fund” in a Truth Social article announcing the checks. The White House said the improvement fund was never used.
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