Nearly one million Americans may receive $500 refund checks for health insurance premiums they paid through the Affordable Care Act’s federal marketplace, according to the Trump administration.
The U.S. Treasury Department began issuing the payments Sept. 30, with most checks expected to arrive in October 2026, ABC News and CBS News reported. The refunds are intended for people who paid the full cost of their insurance premiums without receiving financial assistance.
However, not everyone with Affordable Care Act coverage qualifies. Eligibility depends on where people bought their insurance and whether they received subsidies that lowered their monthly premiums.
Here is what to know about the payments, who may qualify and what the refunds could mean for Black Americans.
Eligibility for the Refund
The refunds are intended for people who purchased health insurance through HealthCare.gov in one of 30 states and paid their full premiums without receiving subsidies, according to ABC News and CBS News.
The Trump administration announced the payments Sept. 10, saying nearly one million people would receive refunds for excess fees collected to operate the federal health insurance marketplace.
Most recipients have incomes above 400% of the federal poverty level. Some people with incomes between 100% and 400% of the poverty level may also qualify if they did not receive subsidies, ABC News reported.
The federal poverty level is used to determine eligibility for several government assistance programs. Income limits vary by household size and are adjusted annually.
People who received premium tax credits to lower their monthly insurance costs are generally not included in the refund program. Simply having an ACA insurance plan does not guarantee a payment.
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States That Are Included
The refunds are intended for eligible residents in 30 states that use the federal marketplace rather than operating their own ACA exchanges, according to multiple news sources.
Those states are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Living in one of these states does not automatically make someone eligible. Their insurance enrollment and premium payment history also matter.
When Will the Checks Arrive?
The Treasury Department began issuing payments Sept. 30, 2026, with most checks expected to arrive in October, according to reports from ABC News and CBS News.
Eligible recipients do not need to apply for the refund, according to those reports. However, people should not assume they will receive a payment simply because they purchased coverage through HealthCare.gov.
The refunds are separate from the ACA subsidies that help eligible people afford monthly premiums. They are also not regular income tax refunds.
Why Is the Trump Administration Sending Refunds?
The White House says the payments will be returned from fees insurers pay to offer plans on HealthCare.gov.
Those fees help cover the cost of operating the federal marketplace. Insurers can factor these expenses into the premiums they charge customers.
The Trump administration has said the government collected more money than was needed to operate the exchange and has blamed the excess fees on the Biden administration.
However, the announcement does not establish that every recipient was individually overcharged by the same amount. The $500 payment is a set refund, not a calculation of each person’s exact premium costs.