Trump says US to send one-time $90 payment to 20 million seniors enrolled in Medicare
Donald Trump announced late on Friday that more than 20 million Medicare enrollees will receive a one-time $90 payment in early October from the Medicare Improvement Fund — which the White House says no previous administration has ever used.
President Donald Trump said the US government will send a one-time $90 payment to more than 20 million Americans enrolled in Medicare to help offset the cost of their monthly medical insurance premiums.
Trump said on social media late on Friday that the payments would come from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which he said Congress had given $2 billion to improve the Medicare fee-for-service programme. https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says-us-send-one-time-90-payment-20-million-seniors-enrolled-medicare-2026-10-03/
The White House said most eligible seniors would receive the $90 payment by direct deposit in early October, while those without direct deposit would get a check at the mailing address registered with Medicare. Most Medicare Part B enrollees are eligible, it said, though those whose premiums are already paid by Medicaid or who pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount do not qualify. https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/10/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-announces-medicare-improvement-fund-payments-for-seniors/
The White House fact sheet claims the fund was established in 2008 and has “never before been utilized”, making Trump, in its words, “the first President to ever use” it directly for seniors. It also claimed Democrats “raided $20.7 billion” from the fund as part of the Affordable Care Act. https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/10/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-announces-medicare-improvement-fund-payments-for-seniors/
The announcement is the latest in a series of cash pledges from the president ahead of November’s midterm elections. Last month he proposed sending $5,000 checks to every adult if Republicans keep control of Congress, though analysts, economists and even some congressional Republicans reacted with scepticism. His administration is separately sending $500 payments to nearly one million Affordable Care Act enrollees, described by the White House as refunds for excessive fees. https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says-us-send-one-time-90-payment-20-million-seniors-enrolled-medicare-2026-10-03/
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