Millions Ineligible for Medicare Rebate10/08 06:08

   

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump says his administration will make 
one-time payments of $90 per person to help more than 20 million Medicare 
enrollees pay for their Part B premiums. It will cost about $2 billion.

   Less than one-third of all Medicare recipients are eligible for the 
payments, which are expected to be sent out this week. Not eligible are roughly 
35 million Medicare Advantage enrollees, millions of other people with 
disabilities and low-income Medicare recipients.

   The election-year promise that the Republican president made over the 
weekend comes as the Nov. 3 midterms are fast approaching, with the cost of 
living and healthcare expenses among the top issues for voters.

   Some questions and answers about the payouts:

   Who will benefit? 

   Some 20.8 million people in the original Medicare Part B who are living in 
the United States, not receiving premium assistance from Medicaid or not paying 
an income-related monthly adjusted amount.

   Medicare Advantage enrollees, who make up more than half of the eligible 
64.2 million Medicare beneficiaries, will not receive a payment, according to 
KFF, a healthcare research nonprofit. Nor will 12 million low-income older 
adults and people with disabilities who get premium assistance.

   The Part B program covers expenses such as doctor's visits, ambulance 
services and lab tests. Total monthly costs generally start at about $200 and 
vary with income.

   Allison Schuster, a White House spokeswoman, said in a statement that the 
administration "is enabling Americans to take control of their health by 
putting money directly back in the hands of Medicare patients."

   When will the payments go out and how will they be disbursed? 

   According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website, eligible 
beneficiaries will receive one $90 rebate this month, with most getting a 
direct deposit on or around Friday. Others will receive a paper check from the 
Treasury Department later in October.

   Juliette Cubanski, director of KFF's program on Medicare policy, said the 
payment will be automatic.

   "As far as a benefit goes, people don't have to call or sign up -- it's just 
money they receive directly, but not everybody on Medicare will receive this 
money."

   A White House fact sheet says people can call 1-800-MEDICARE 
(1-800-633-4227) to check on their eligibility for the premium rebate. To check 
on payment status, people should call the Social Security Administration at 
1-800-772-1213.

   What is the source of the money? 

   Payments will come out of the Medicare Improvement Fund created by Congress 
in 2008 and intended to make improvements to the Medicare fee-for-service 
program.

   The fund was created to improve program management and conduct oversight of 
contracts and contractors, according to the Congressional Budget Office, but 
its purpose has expanded after various legislative changes.

   This is not the first time the fund has been used.

   Democratic President Barack Obama's administration, along with Congress, 
redirected $20 billion to expand healthcare coverage through the Affordable 
Care Act.

   But under Trump, it is the first time that the fund has been used to 
directly pay recipients.

   What are critics of the plan saying? 

   Critics of Trump's promise characterize the $90 payments as a preelection 
stunt designed to sway voters rather than address structural problems in 
healthcare costs and administration.

   The top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, 
said in a statement that "this is another desperate attempt by a failed 
president to escape Americans' revulsion with his failed agenda, amounting to 
one tank of Trump-inflated gas."

   Trump recently promised $500 rebate checks to an estimated 1 million 
Obamacare enrollees across 30 states whom the White House alleged were 
overcharged by the Biden administration for some fees.

   Cubanski said the Medicare rebate payments were being doled out when 
Americans were feeling the bite of higher food, energy and gas prices. Surging 
healthcare costs are only compounding those pressure, she said.

   "This might be helpful for people but it might not go very far."