More than 20 million Medicare beneficiaries may get one-time $90 payment — here's who qualifies
More than 20 million Medicare beneficiaries may soon receive a one-time $90 payment from the federal government to offset their Medicare Part B premiums, the White House announced on Friday.
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social Friday that his administration will start sending the payments "immediately."
Medicare Part B, which covers medically necessary and preventative services, currently has around 62.9 million enrollees, according to the Centers on Medicare and Medicaid Services.
About 20.8 million Medicare Part B enrollees will be eligible for the direct payments, according to CMS.
The one-time $90 payment isn't a significant offset for those consumers: For 2026, the standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 per month, which works out to about $2,434.80 for the calendar year.
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 refund checks the administration is sending to Obamacare enrollees.
Most eligible beneficiaries will receive a direct deposit on or around Oct. 8, according to a fact sheet from CMS. Qualifying seniors without direct deposit will receive a check at their mailing address on file with Medicare. Those checks will be sent later in October, according to CMS.
Medicare Part B enrollees who do not qualify include people who get premium assistance from Medicaid and those who pay Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts — an extra surcharge, also known as IRMAAs, added to monthly premiums for individuals with incomes that exceed certain amounts. Beneficiaries who do not live in the U.S. or who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage are not eligible, either.
The $90 payments will come from unutilized funds in the Medicare Improvement Fund, according to the White House, which has $2 billion authorized by Congress for improvements to 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. Beneficiaries may check on their payment status by calling the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213, beginning on Oct. 15.
In 2027, the standard Medicare Part B premium is estimated to increase to $209.50 per month, according to a June report from Medicare's trustees. That's $6.60 more per month than what beneficiaries currently pay, or a $79.20 increase for the year.
Medicare Part B premiums are typically deducted directly from monthly Social Security benefits. As a result, Medicare Part B premium payments affect the increase Social Security beneficiaries see from the annual cost-of-living adjustment.
The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for 2027 is slated to be announced by the Social Security Administration this month. Experts estimate the annual increase may range from 3.5% to 3.6% based on government inflation data, which would be the highest increase in three years.
