Trump offering $90 to Medicare enrollees to cover premiums

On Friday evening, President Donald Trump announced that the United States government would be sending a one-time payment of US$90 to more than 20 million individuals enrolled in Medicare, a health insurance program for the elderly. The funds for this initiative are coming from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which has been allocated with US$2 billion by Congress to enhance the Medicare fee-for-service program.

This announcement comes as part of a series of financial commitments Trump has made to voters ahead of the November midterm elections, where his Republican Party is fighting for control of Congress. Currently, the GOP holds a narrow majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, but Trump's approval rating has been low due to his handling of various issues, including the high cost of living in the United States amid the ongoing conflict with Iran that has caused oil and gas prices to soar.

The White House provided further details of Trump's plan on its website, stating that most eligible seniors will receive the US$90 through a direct deposit in early October, while those without direct deposit arrangements will receive a check in the mail, also by early October. Last month, Trump had proposed sending US$5,000 checks to all adult citizens if his party retained control of the House and Senate in the midterms, but his proposal faced skepticism from analysts, economists, and even some Republicans in Congress.

In addition to the Medicare payments, the Trump administration is also sending US$500 payments to nearly 1 million Americans in an effort that strategists believe could sway certain election races. The White House asserts that these payments are a refund for what they describe as excessive fees charged to individuals who purchased health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.