Trump pledges to send $90 checks to millions of seniors on Medicare

President Donald Trump has announced plans to distribute $90 rebate payments to more than 20 million older Americans enrolled in Medicare, aiming to offset costs associated with Part B premiums ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services confirmed the initiative on Saturday, reporting in an informational document that approximately 20.8 million citizens qualify for the relief. According to the agency, the funding will be drawn from the Medicare Improvement Fund, a reserve created by lawmakers in 2008 to finance enhancements to the federal health insurance program. While Congress has previously redirected money from the fund to balance out other federal expenditures, the agency noted that this marks the first instance of a president directly tapping into the reserve.

Trump shared news of the initiative via his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that his administration would begin distributing payments close to $100 immediately to help seniors cover their Part B monthly costs. In the post, the president criticized the fund's historical management, describing it as an inefficient tool used by political opponents to cover wasteful spending.

CMS outlined that qualifying recipients will receive their funds through two methods. Some individuals will see direct deposits arrive in early October, accompanied by an explanatory letter or email from Trump. Others will receive physical paper checks issued by the Department of the Treasury later in the month. Under the administration's stated schedule, both distribution channels are slated to reach recipients prior to the midterm elections on November 3.

The $90 payments come alongside other recent healthcare disbursements announced by the White House. Last month, Trump pledged to issue $500 refunds to around 1 million individuals enrolled in Affordable Care Act plans across 30 states, asserting that those policyholders had been overcharged for exchange fees under the previous administration, a claim made without supporting documentation. Trump stated on Thursday that those $500 payments had already been dispatched.

The moves follow a broader pattern of proposed payouts put forward by Trump in recent months. On Friday, the president reiterated a separate proposal to provide $5,000 dividend checks to every adult American citizen should Republicans secure majorities in both the House and the Senate this fall. That proposal has drawn bipartisan doubts on Capitol Hill, as the administration has offered few specifics on the legislative framework needed to implement it. Other prior proposals, including suggested payments derived from tariff revenues and promised returns linked to government efficiency initiatives, have not materialized into disbursements for citizens.