Trump administration sends $500 Obamacare refund checks to 950,000 enrollees in 30 states

The Trump administration began sending $500 refund checks Wednesday to over 950,000 Obamacare enrollees in 30 states, claiming they were overcharged under the Biden administration, with payments timed just over a month before the midterm elections. The Treasury Department is issuing the refunds, which some families will receive multiple checks for, alongside a letter from President Trump dated Sept. 30. The payments stem from a "surplus" of user fees collected from insurers, and primarily target individuals earning over 400% of the federal poverty line, though some lower-income enrollees qualify. The refunds follow the lapse of enhanced ACA premium subsidies at the end of 2025, which caused premiums to spike for millions. Health policy experts say the $500 checks do little to offset annual premium increases of several thousand dollars, and view the move as political "damage control" ahead of the 2026 elections.