Trump taps Medicare fund for $90 checks to 20 million

The White House has announced one-time $90 payments to more than 20 million Medicare enrollees to help them pay their Part B premiums. The announcement was made on Friday.
President Trump said he would use Congress’ $2 billion Medicare Improvement Fund for the payments. The fund was signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2008 as part of a supplemental appropriations act.
“President Trump believes that Medicare Improvement Funds should be used to directly help people on Medicare, not special interests,” a White House fact sheet said. The administration says it is returning healthcare dollars to the American people.
The announcement comes a month before the midterm elections, when Trump’s approval rating on healthcare remains low, including in rural areas that backed his 2024 campaign.
The administration also says it is cracking down on fraud in the exchanges. The payments are expected to reach enrolled seniors in the coming weeks.
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