$500 ACA refunds sent to 1M enrollees in 30 states

The Trump administration began sending $500 refund checks on Wednesday to nearly 1 million Affordable Care Act enrollees across 30 states, claiming they were overcharged for exchange fees under the Biden administration. The rebates target enrollees who do not receive premium assistance. The White House alleges the previous administration accumulated a surplus from user fees that inflated consumer premiums, though it provided no evidence for this claim. Critics dismissed the payments as a "gimmick," noting KFF analysis suggests the funds may have originated from unspent fees collected during Trump's first term. It remains unclear if the amount reflects actual overpayments or requires congressional approval.