Published October 8, 2026
Who Gets the $90 Payment — and Who Does Not
Only about one in three Part B enrollees gets the $90 rebate. Find out if you qualify — and which two groups are excluded.
About 20.8 million people are getting the one-time $90 Medicare rebate. But not everyone with Medicare qualifies. In fact, only about one in three Part B enrollees get it. Here is how to tell if you are one of them.
Who Qualifies?
You are likely to get the $90 if all of these are true:
- You are enrolled in traditional (original) Medicare with Part B.
- You pay the standard Part B premium yourself.
If that describes you, the payment should arrive automatically. You do not need to apply.
Who Does Not Qualify?
Two groups are excluded:
- People whose Part B premium is paid by Medicaid. If Medicaid covers your premium, you already get help with this cost, so you do not get the extra $90.
- People who pay IRMAA surcharges. IRMAA stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. It is the extra premium charged to people with higher incomes. If you pay these surcharges, you are excluded from the rebate.
If you are not sure which group you are in, check your my Social Security account at ssa.gov or call SSA at 1-800-772-1213.
What If I Am on a Medicare Advantage Plan?
The rebate is described as going to traditional-Medicare beneficiaries. If you have questions about how it applies to your plan, the safest step is to call SSA or Medicare directly — do not take a stranger's word for it over the phone.
Do I Need to Sign Up or Claim It?
No. There is no sign-up, no claim form, and no deadline. If you qualify, it comes to you. This is important, because scammers are already calling seniors and telling them they must "claim" their $90 before a deadline. That is a lie. Read scams targeting seniors over the $90 payment so you can spot these calls.
What the Payment Looks Like
The payment is labeled along the lines of "Medicare Improvement Fund Payment; $90 Payment to Offset October Premium." Direct deposits started October 8, 2026, and paper checks go out later in October. See when your $90 payment will arrive for the timeline.
What If I Think I Qualify but Got Nothing?
Give it time — paper checks take longer. Then confirm your payment status through your my Social Security account or by calling 1-800-772-1213. And remember: this is a one-time payment, not a permanent increase or the COLA, as explained in what the $90 payment is not.