White House: About 20 Million Medicare Beneficiaries Get $90 Deposits, 875,000 Checks Mailed to Offset October Premiums
The Trump administration on October 8 deposited $90 directly to roughly 20 million Medicare beneficiaries, with about 875,000 paper checks for the same amount also mailed, as a one-time offset against October's Part B premium.
The money comes from the Medicare Improvement Fund, created by Congress in 2008 with a $2 billion appropriation; this is the first time the fund has been used to pay beneficiaries directly. President Trump previewed the move on October 2, saying he wanted to put money straight back into seniors' pockets. A White House official confirmed the figures to USA TODAY (about 19.9 million direct deposits and about 875,000 checks).
Who qualifies? People enrolled in Original Medicare Part B who live in the United States get it automatically - no application and no phone call needed; about two-thirds of beneficiaries qualify. Excluded are those whose premiums are paid by Medicaid, those who pay the high-income IRMAA surcharge, and Medicare Advantage enrollees. Anyone without direct deposit on file should receive the check in the mail during October. The standard Part B premium for 2026 is $202.90 a month, so the $90 amounts to a one-time premium break.
The government will never charge a fee for this payment or call asking for your bank or Social Security numbers. With questions, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). (Sources: White House official via USA TODAY; CMS Part B premium fact sheet)
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：一对长者夫妇微笑合影（资料图）
