Trump administration begins distribution of $500 ObamaCare refunds

The White House has begun mailing $500 refund checks to more than 950,000 Americans who the Trump administration says were overcharged for insurance purchased through the federal ObamaCare marketplace.

According to The Hill, Treasury Department checks are being distributed across 30 states using HealthCare.gov, with Texas and Florida having the largest numbers of eligible recipients.

“For years, the Biden administration overcharged you to fund the operation of HealthCare.gov,” President Donald Trump wrote in a letter accompanying the payments. “That money belongs to hard-working Americans, not the Government, and now I’m returning it to you!”

The refunds will reach only a fraction of the 19.2 million people enrolled in Affordable Care Act coverage. People receiving premium subsidies and residents of states operating their own exchanges are not eligible.

The administration says the payments are funded by $500 million in excess user fees collected from insurance companies to operate HealthCare.gov.

“You have paid into this flawed System, and now you are finally getting something back,” Trump said in the letter.