Trump is sending ACA and Medicare checks. Are they enough to cover rising healthcare costs?
October 5, 2026 / 3:59 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- The Trump administration is sending $90 checks to over 20 million Medicare Part B participants and $500 checks to about 1 million ACA enrollees.
- The White House claims these payments are intended to lower healthcare costs for seniors and families.
- Experts doubt the effectiveness of these one-time payments in offsetting the substantial rise in Medicare Part B premiums and ACA plan costs.
- Many Medicare and ACA enrollees do not qualify for these payments.
- The timing of the Medicare checks, weeks before the midterm elections, has been labeled as a potential attempt to influence voters.