About 230,000 Medicare recipients are getting checks that erroneously reimburse them for premiums they have paid for prescription drug coverage this year, the government said.
The checks, which are sure to leave many beneficiaries confused, average about $215.
They are accompanied by a letter that mistakenly tells them the Social Security Administration will no longer deduct monthly premiums for drug coverage from their Social Security checks.
Medicare officials say they caught the problem after checks totaling nearly $50 million were sent out last week.
Officials will send a second letter instructing the elderly and disabled not to cash the checks and assuring them that their prescription drug coverage will continue.
