The White House announced Friday that the federal government will distribute one-time $90 payments to more than 20 million Medicare beneficiaries to help offset Medicare Part B premiums. President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that his administration would begin sending the payments “immediately.”
Approximately 20.8 million of the roughly 62.9 million Medicare Part B enrollees qualify for the direct payments. Most eligible beneficiaries will receive the $90 via direct deposit on or around October 8, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Those without direct deposit on file will receive checks by mail later in October. The one-time payment represents a modest offset to the annual premium costs, as the standard Medicare Part B premium for 2026 is $202.90 monthly, totaling approximately $2,434.80 annually.
Certain beneficiaries are excluded from eligibility, including those receiving Medicaid premium assistance, individuals paying income-related monthly adjustment amounts, non-U.S. residents, and Medicare Advantage enrollees. The $90 payments will be drawn from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which has $2 billion authorized by Congress for fee-for-service program improvements.
Seniors can verify their eligibility by contacting Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 or checking payment status with the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 beginning October 15. Looking ahead, the standard Medicare Part B premium is estimated to increase to $209.50 monthly in 2027, according to Medicare’s trustees. The timing of this payment announcement comes as the Social Security Administration prepares to announce the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment this month, with experts projecting an increase between 3.5% and 3.6%.
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