The $90 Medicare Rebate: Will You Get One?

You may see a $90 deposit from Social Security this month. 

This is a one-time rebate on your Medicare Part B premium. 

The money comes from a federal account called the Medicare Improvement Fund. 

About 20.8 million people will get it, but many others will not.

To get the $90, you must have Original Medicare with Part B and pay your own Part B premium. 

You must also live in the United States. 

If you meet these rules, the rebate should come to you automatically.

Some people are left out. 

If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you do not get it. 

If you pay the extra high-income charge called IRMAA, you do not get it. 

For 2026, that means your 2024 income was over $109,000 for a single person or $218,000 for a married couple. 

You also do not get it if Medi-Cal pays your Part B premium, or if you have Part A only.

Most people will get a direct deposit from Social Security on or around October 8. 

It shows up as its own $90 payment, and your regular monthly benefit does not change. 

Some people will get a paper check from the U.S. Treasury later in October. 

The check will say “Medicare Improvement Fund Payment.”

If you are married, each spouse is checked on their own. One spouse may get $90 while the other gets nothing.

Keep this in perspective. 

The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026. 

The $90 covers less than half of one month. It is a one-time payment, and your premium going forward does not change. 

If you are not sure whether you qualify, call 1-800-MEDICARE at 1-800-633-4227.