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The White House announced Friday that 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.
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social on Friday that his administration would begin sending money “immediately.”
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, there are currently about 62.9 million enrollees in Medicare Part B, which covers medically necessary and preventive services.
About 20.8 million Medicare Part B enrollees will be eligible for direct payments, according to CMS.
For those consumers, a one-time payment of $90 is not a significant offset. The standard Medicare Part B premium for 2026 is $202.90 per month, which translates to approximately $2,434.80 per calendar year.
Who can and cannot expect to pay Medicare?
Most eligible seniors will receive $90 direct deposit payments in early October, according to a White House fact sheet. This payment is separate from the $500 refund checks the administration is sending to Obamacare enrollees.
Most eligible beneficiaries will receive direct deposits on or about October 8, according to a CMS fact sheet. Eligible seniors without direct deposit will receive a check at their Medicare-registered address. CMS says those checks are expected to be sent in late October.
Ineligible Medicare Part B enrollees include those who receive premium assistance from Medicaid and those who pay an income-based monthly adjustment amount (an additional premium, also known as IRMAA, that is added to the monthly premium for individuals above a certain income). Beneficiaries who do not reside in the United States or who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage are also not eligible.
The White House said the $90 payments will come from unused funds in the Medicare Improvement Fund, which has $2 billion authorized by Congress to improve Medicare’s fee-for-service program.
The White House recommends seniors call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 to confirm eligibility for the $90 payment. Starting Oct. 15, recipients will be able to check the status of their payments by calling the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213.
How Medicare Affects Social Security Testing
Standard Medicare Part B premiums are estimated to increase to $209.50 per month in 2027, according to a June report from the Medicare Administrative Board. This is $6.60 more per month than what beneficiaries currently pay, and an annual increase of $79.20.
Medicare Part B premiums are typically deducted directly from your monthly Social Security benefit. As a result, Medicare Part B premium payments affect the increase Social Security beneficiaries receive from annual cost-of-living adjustments.
The 2027 Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment is scheduled to be released by the Social Security Administration this month. Experts predict the annual increase could be in the range of 3.5% to 3.6% based on government inflation data, which would be the largest increase in the past three years.
