Trump administration sends $500 to nearly 1 million Obamacare enrollees — TimesLIVE
In the United States, the administration of President Donald Trump is sending $500 payments this week to nearly 950,000 people who buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act system, known as Obamacare. The White House calls the funds a refund of excess fees paid by insurance policy buyers, TimesLIVE reports.
In a letter to recipients, Trump said he was returning money that, according to him, belongs to hardworking Americans rather than the government. The payments will not be sent nationwide: they will go to residents of 30 states that use the federal HealthCare.gov insurance marketplace. Enrollees in programs in 20 states with their own marketplaces will not receive checks.
Payments in competitive states
Overall, about 19 million people use Obamacare insurance, but payments are intended for only 950,000 of them. The states where checks are available include most of the key statewide races ahead of the November 3 vote. Eight of the nine Senate races that independent analysts consider the most competitive are taking place in these states, as are 10 of the 12 most competitive gubernatorial elections.
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According to a Reuters analysis of government data, 71% of the payments, totaling $339 million, will go to residents of 13 such states. Democratic candidates and analysts called the program an attempt to influence the elections. The White House did not respond to these accusations.
Who will receive the checks
The funds are intended for Obamacare enrollees who are paying the full cost of insurance this year rather than using subsidized coverage. According to the White House, most of them have household income above four times the federal poverty level — about $132,000 a year for a family of four.
These people were previously able to qualify for subsidies thanks to a COVID-19 pandemic-era expansion of the program, but the Republican-controlled Congress allowed it to expire at the end of 2025. Research organization KFF estimates that in some states, this group's insurance premium costs could quadruple this year, to more than $2,200 per month.
