- The one-time payments will help eligible Medicare Part B enrollees cover premiums, with direct deposits and checks expected in early October.
President Donald Trump announced a one-time $90 payment for more than 20 million Medicare enrollees to help offset the cost of Medicare Part B premiums, according to CNN and a White House fact sheet issued Oct. 2.
The payments will come from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which Congress established in 2008 to finance improvements to the Medicare fee-for-service program. The White House said the fund has about $2 billion available for the purpose
Most eligible recipients are expected to receive the $90 through direct deposit in early October. Those without direct deposit will receive checks at the mailing address registered with Medicare. The announcement applies to more than 20 million people, rather than all Medicare beneficiaries. CNN reported that the US has roughly 64 million elderly Medicare enrollees.
Who Qualifies for the $90 Medicare Payment?
The White House said most Medicare Part B enrollees qualify for the payment. People whose Part B premiums are already paid by Medicaid will not receive the payment. Higher-income Medicare beneficiaries who pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA, are also excluded under the administration's eligibility rules.
The payment is intended to help cover Medicare Part B premiums, which pay for physician services, outpatient care and other covered medical services. The administration said the money will be distributed automatically, meaning eligible beneficiaries do not need to submit a separate application for the payment.
The announcement follows other payments and proposed rebates from the Trump administration, including the recently announced $500 Affordable Care Act refund checks for eligible consumers. Those payments are separate from the Medicare initiative.
When Will Medicare Recipients Get the Money?
The White House said payments will begin arriving in early October, either through direct deposit or by mailed check. Reuters reported that the government plans to use the Medicare Improvement Fund to finance the one-time payments and that more than 20 million beneficiaries are expected to receive them.
The payment is separate from the regular monthly Medicare benefit and does not represent a permanent increase in Medicare payments. It is a one-time $90 payment intended to help with Part B premium costs.
The administration has said the fund has not previously been used for this type of payment. The White House described the move as an effort to help seniors with health care costs.