Trump Announces One-Time $90 Payment for More Than 20 Million Medicare Seniors

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that more than 20 million Americans enrolled in Medicare will receive a one-time payment of $90 to help offset the cost of their monthly medical insurance premiums.

Trump said the payments would be funded through the Medicare Improvement Fund, which he said received $2 billion from Congress to improve the Medicare fee-for-service programme.

The White House said most eligible seniors would receive the payment through direct deposit in early October. Those who do not use direct deposit will receive a cheque at the mailing address registered with Medicare.

The announcement comes ahead of the November midterm elections, in which control of both chambers of Congress is at stake. Trump's Republican Party currently holds narrow majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives.

The payment is the latest in a series of financial proposals and payments announced by the Trump administration.

Last month, Trump proposed sending $5,000 checks to all adult U.S. citizens if Republicans retain control of Congress after the midterm elections. The proposal has drawn skepticism from some economists, analysts and Republican lawmakers.

The administration is also separately sending $500 payments to nearly one million Americans who purchased health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. The White House has described those payments as refunds for what it considers excessive fees charged to policyholders.

The new Medicare payment is intended to provide financial assistance to eligible seniors as they continue to face medical and living expenses.

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