Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO addressed the Social Security Administration's (SSA) efforts to stop withholding Medicare catastrophic coverage premiums.

GAO found that: (1) SSA planned to complete computer reprogramming by mid-March 1990; (2) the Treasury would issue two refunds totalling $572 million in excess withholdings; and (3) Medicare appropriated funds would cover the $49-million cost of collecting premiums while still issuing refunds.