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More than 20 million Medicare beneficiaries could soon receive a one-time $90 payment from the federal government to offset their Medicare Part B premiums, the White House announced Friday.
President Donald Trump said Friday on Truth Social that his administration would begin sending out the payments “immediately.”
Medicare Part B, which covers medically necessary and preventive services, currently has about 62.9 million enrollees, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
About 20.8 million Medicare Part B enrollees will be eligible for direct payments, according to CMS.
The one-time payment of $90 does not constitute meaningful compensation for these consumers: for 2026, the standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 per month, which equates to approximately $2,434.80 for the calendar year.
Who can and cannot expect a Medicare payment
Most eligible seniors will receive a $90 direct deposit payment in early October, according to a White House fact sheet. The payments are separate from the $500 rebate checks the administration is sending to Obamacare enrollees.
Most eligible beneficiaries will receive a direct deposit around Oct. 8, according to a CMS fact sheet. Eligible seniors without direct deposit will receive a check to their mailing address on file with Medicare. These checks will be sent later in October, according to CMS.
Medicare Part B enrollees who are not eligible include people who receive Medicaid premium assistance and those who pay income-related monthly adjustment amounts – an additional surcharge, also known as IRMAA, added to monthly premiums for people whose income exceeds certain amounts. Beneficiaries who do not live in the United States or are enrolled in Medicare Advantage are also not eligible.
The $90 payments will come from unused Medicare Improvement Fund funds, according to the White House, which has $2 billion authorized by Congress to improve Medicare’s fee-for-service program.
To check eligibility for the $90 payment, the White House recommends seniors call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227. Recipients can check their payment status by calling the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213, starting October 15.
How Medicare Affects Social Security Checks
In 2027, the standard Medicare Part B premium is expected to increase to $209.50 per month, according to a June report from Medicare administrators. That’s $6.60 more per month than beneficiaries currently pay, or an increase of $79.20 for the year.
Medicare Part B premiums are generally deducted directly from monthly Social Security benefits. As a result, Medicare Part B premium payments affect the increase that Social Security beneficiaries see through the annual cost of living adjustment.
The Social Security cost of living adjustment for 2027 is expected to be announced this month by the Social Security Administration. Experts estimate the annual increase could range from 3.5% to 3.6% based on government inflation data, which would be the largest increase in three years.
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