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US President Donald Trump has announced a one-time payment of $90 to nearly 20 million senior citizens to help cover their Medicare Part B premiums, just weeks before the upcoming midterm elections.
Trump announced the plan in a post on his social media platform Truth Social late Friday night. CNN and The Associated Press reported the development.
The White House said the payments would come from the Medicare Improvement Fund, established by Congress in 2008. Eligible seniors are expected to receive the money directly through their bank accounts or by check starting in October.
However, not all of the roughly 64 million Americans enrolled in Medicare will qualify for the payment.
The move comes as the Trump administration faces voter concerns over rising living costs and high prices for essential goods. Recent polls reportedly show that only 17 percent of Americans trust Trump to handle inflation. Analysts say the administration’s decision to release government funds for voters comes ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, in which Republicans are seeking to retain their congressional majority.
Earlier on Thursday, the administration also began sending $500 rebate checks to nearly one million Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, enrollees.
At a campaign rally in Vandalia, Ohio, on Saturday night, Trump further said that every adult American would receive $5,000 in cash if Republicans retain their majorities in both the House and Senate.
Analysts say voters aged 65 and over are among the most reliable voting groups in US elections, making senior citizens an important constituency ahead of the midterms.
