President Donald Trump announced late on Friday that his administration will send payments of $90 to more than 20 million American seniors to help cover their Medicare Part B premiums.
“My Administration will, immediately, begin sending ‘Checks’ of nearly $100 to over 20 MILLION wonderful Seniors to help pay for their Medicare Part B premiums,” Trump wrote in the late-night announcement on his Truth Social platform. To be precise, the payment is $90 per recipient.
According to the president, the money will come from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which he described as a “pointless ‘Slush Fund'” used by Democrats in Congress for “Waste, Fraud, and Abuse.”
Authority remains unclear
It is not yet clear whether the White House has the legal authority to redirect the funds as Trump described. USA Today reported it had reached out to the administration for clarification on how the payments would be authorized and delivered.
The announcement is the latest in a string of cash promises from the president ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. Although Trump himself is not on the ballot, Republicans are expected to face a difficult fight as voters express concern about the impact of the war with Iran on household finances.
A pattern of cash pledges
In the same announcement, Trump repeated another midterm-linked promise: $5,000 to every U.S. adult “if, and when, the Republicans win.” Critics have described that pledge as little more than a bribe.
A USA Today review of Trump’s cash-related promises found a mixed record. Around 1.45 million U.S. service members did receive his $1,776 “warrior dividend” checks. However, Americans never received the previously promised $2,000 tariff dividend checks, nor the checks tied to Department of Government Efficiency savings that were estimated at up to $5,000.
The seniors announcement also comes just days after White House officials said they would begin sending $500 checks to nearly one million Americans they say were overcharged through the Affordable Care Act’s federal exchange when buying health insurance.
Source: USA Today