Trump sends $500 ACA refund checks to 950,000 in 30 states

The Trump administration is sending $500 refund checks to over 950,000 Americans in 30 states starting Sept. 30, claiming these payments return surplus Affordable Care Act user fees that were overcharged under the Biden administration. The Treasury Department will issue the payments to consumers who used the federal HealthCare.gov exchange, with recipients receiving letters signed by President Trump. The administration says insurance companies paid user fees that inflated premiums beyond what was needed to operate the exchange, and the surplus is now being returned. The refunds apply only to states relying on the federal exchange, excluding 20 states with their own marketplaces. Most recipients earn around 400% of the federal poverty level, and the payments are separate from Trump's proposed $5,000 dividend tied to the November midterm election.