Nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states get $500 ACA refund checks starting September 30

Nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states are receiving $500 refund checks from the Treasury Department starting September 30, tied to alleged overcharges in Affordable Care Act federal exchange fees during the Biden administration. The payments target people who bought coverage through HealthCare.gov without premium assistance, mostly earning around 400% of the federal poverty level. The administration says insurers passed excess user fees onto consumers through higher premiums. Checks are distributed automatically with a letter from President Trump, arriving five weeks before midterm elections. Critics view the timing as a political maneuver, while the administration frames it as returning surplus funds to working-class Americans.