US SENIORS SET FOR $90 MEDICARE PART B PAYMENT IN OCTOBER

More than 20 million Medicare beneficiaries in the United States are expected to receive a one-off $90 payment to help offset Medicare Part B premiums, the White House said. President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that his administration would begin sending the payments "immediately". The Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services said around 20.8 million of Medicare Part B's roughly 62.9 million enrollees will qualify for the payment. Most eligible people will receive the money by direct deposit on or around 8 October, according to a CMS fact sheet. Those without direct deposit details on file with Medicare will instead receive a cheque by post later in the month.

Medicare Part B covers medically necessary and preventative care, and its standard monthly premium is set to rise to $209.50 in 2026, up from $202.90 this year. That increase means the one-off $90 payment covers less than half a month's premium, with the standard annual cost working out at around $2,434.80 under the current rate. The payment is separate from $500 refund cheques the administration has also been sending to people enrolled in Obamacare plans, according to CMS.

The announcement comes ahead of the US midterm elections, according to one financial publication, which said the administration is seeking to address concerns over rising healthcare costs among older voters. The White House has not set out further details on how the payment scheme will operate beyond the initial round of direct deposits and cheques. CMS said the October disbursement window applies to both payment methods, with mailed cheques following the direct deposits already scheduled for early in the month.