Millions of seniors are seeing $90 deposits from the Social Security Administration this week, and some are wondering where the money came from. The payments stem from the Trump administration’s announcement that it would send checks to about 20 million Medicare enrollees to help lower healthcare costs.
President Trump announced Friday that the administration would send the money to some participants in Medicare Part B, which covers doctor visits, outpatient care and preventive screenings. About one-third of Part B’s 62.9 million enrollees are eligible, while about 40 million do not qualify.
The Medicare Improvement Fund, which Congress created to improve and support the original Medicare fee-for-service program, is paying for the rebates. Experts say the $90 helps, but it won’t fully offset the higher costs Medicare recipients face.
Part B premiums climbed by more than $200 a year in 2026, and the Medicare trustees’ latest annual report projects another increase of nearly $80 in 2027.
Americans of all ages are struggling with rising healthcare costs. Nonprofit health policy research organization KFF found in its polling that people name those costs as a top financial concern.
Who qualifies for the $90 checks?
Seniors who have Part B through traditional Medicare, and who neither pay income-related premiums nor receive premium assistance from Medicaid, qualify for the one-time payment. Medicare Advantage enrollees do not.
According to a CMS fact sheet, that leaves more than 20 million Part B enrollees eligible.
“People who are paying the income-related premium have higher incomes to begin with, so the thinking is that they may be better able to absorb higher costs and wouldn’t benefit as much from the $90 payment as people with lower incomes,” Juliette Cubanski, vice president and director of the Program on Medicare Policy at KFF, told CBS News.
Medicare Advantage differs from traditional Medicare, and that likely explains why those enrollees don’t get the payments, she added.
The agency said the initiative makes Medicare better and coverage more affordable by putting “healthcare dollars back where they belong – in the hands of our Medicare beneficiaries.”
How will the money be sent?
The CMS fact sheet says the Social Security Administration will deposit the $90 rebate directly into most eligible beneficiaries’ accounts on or around Oct. 8. According to social media reports, some seniors saw payments or pending deposits as early as Tuesday.
Other beneficiaries will get a $90 paper check from the U.S. Department of the Treasury later in October. It will carry the following message: “Medicare Improvement Fund Payment; $90 Payment to Offset October Premium.”
Some advocates warn that seniors could overlook the paper payments, especially since many receive a heavy volume of mail from insurers during open enrollment season.
Why are 40 million people left out?
About 40 million Medicare Part B enrollees can’t receive the $90 payment. They include:
- Seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans
- Those who pay an income-related adjusted premium
- People who do not live in the U.S.
- Beneficiaries who receive premium assistance
Eligible Part B enrollees can call 1-800-MEDICARE to find out whether they qualify for the one-time check. Beneficiaries who want to track their payment can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 starting Oct. 15.
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