The federal government will make one-time payments of $90 per person to more than 20 million Medicare enrollees to help cover Part B premiums, the White House said.
By the numbers: The payments draw on the Medicare Improvement Fund, which Congress stocked with $2 billion to improve the Medicare fee-for-service program. The White House says the fund has never been used since its creation in 2008.
- Most eligible seniors get a $90 direct deposit in early October. Those without direct deposit get a check mailed to the address registered with Medicare.
Zoom in: Most Part B enrollees qualify. Two groups are excluded: people whose premiums Medicaid already pays, and higher earners who pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount.
- To check eligibility, the White House points seniors to 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). For payment status, it directs them to the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213.
The backstory: The fund has been a piggy bank rather than a program. The White House says a previous Congress moved $20.7 billion out of it to help pay for the Affordable Care Act in 2010.
The other side: Reuters and The Guardian note the announcement, made in a Friday night social media post, is the latest in a run of financial promises before the November midterms, where Republicans are expected to lose congressional seats.
- Trump proposed $5,000 checks for all adult citizens in September if Republicans hold both chambers, a plan economists and some congressional Republicans met with skepticism.
Why it matters: A $90 credit is small against a year of premiums, but it is real money arriving within weeks for one in six Americans, and it sets a precedent for spending a dormant Medicare fund by executive announcement.
