The Trump administration began sending $500 payments on Sept. 30 to nearly 1 million people who buy HealthCare.gov coverage without federal subsidies. The money arrives by paper check or direct deposit along with a letter from President Trump, CBS News reported.
With real government money landing in mailboxes and bank accounts, consumers face a familiar risk. Scammers often copy legitimate payments, sending texts, calls, or emails that promise to release a refund in exchange for bank details or a fee.
For households, the key questions are simple: Do I qualify, how will the money arrive, and how can I tell a real payment from a fake one?
Who Qualifies for the $500 Payment?
The payments go to marketplace enrollees in the 30 states that use HealthCare.gov who do not receive premium tax credits. Most recipients earn more than 400% of the federal poverty level, about $64,000 for an individual or $132,000 for a family of four under 2026 guidelines, according to reporting by USA Today Network outlets.
Families with more than one eligible person may receive more than one payment. Officials have not published detailed rules for situations such as people who changed plans or moved between states during the year. Texas has the most recipients, about 139,000, followed by Florida with about 127,900 and Ohio with about 65,700.
The 30 states include Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and others that rely on the federal marketplace. People in states that run their own marketplaces, such as California and New York, are not included.
The White House says the money comes from surplus user fees charged to insurers to run HealthCare.gov. That fee was 2.5% of premiums in 2026 and is set at 1.9% for 2027, according to Healthcare Brew. The letter says, "For years, the Biden Administration overcharged you to fund the operation of HealthCare.gov."
MedicalDaily previously reported that the $500 refund skips subsidized enrollees and does not change 2027 premiums or deductibles. What is new is that payments are now arriving, which makes verification and fraud prevention the pressing concerns.
Spotting a Real Refund Versus a Scam
A real payment arrives on its own. Eligible enrollees do not need to apply, and payments are being sent directly to them. No official process requires recipients to share a bank account number by phone or text.
The Federal Trade Commission warns that "Government agencies will never call, email, text, or message you on social media to ask for money or personal information." It also advises, "Don't wire money or use gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a payment app to pay someone who says they're with the government," and notes that caller ID can be faked to show a real agency's name or number.
Scam messages often use urgent language, warn that the money will expire, or point to website addresses that look similar to official ones. Official HealthCare.gov pages end in .gov.
Warning signs include a message asking you to verify your identity to receive the $500, pay a processing fee, buy gift cards, or click a link to claim the money. A refund offer sent to someone who does not have HealthCare.gov coverage, or who lives in a state with its own marketplace, is another red flag.
Older adults and people new to the marketplace may be especially targeted, since they may be less familiar with how federal payments work.
Checking Through Official Channels
People who are unsure whether they qualify can log in to their account at HealthCare.gov or call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596.
Before depositing a paper check, compare it with the letter and look for signs of tampering. If something looks wrong, contact your bank using the number on your card, not a number provided in a message.
Anyone who shared bank or Social Security information with a suspected scammer should contact their bank right away and report the incident at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Identity theft can be reported at IdentityTheft.gov. People who believe they qualify but have not received a payment should wait for official guidance rather than answer unsolicited offers to track a missing refund.
Recipients may also want to keep the letter with their tax records. Officials have not publicly addressed whether the payment counts as taxable income, so a tax preparer can help if questions arise next spring.
A One-Time Payment Against Higher Premiums
The refund is small compared with this year's cost increases. Average premiums rose about $65 a month, or $780 a year, partly because enhanced tax credits expired, Healthcare Brew reported.
The payment is also one-time. "Essentially all marketplace enrollees have experienced large premium increases this year," Matthew Fiedler, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told Healthcare Brew, noting that the refund offsets those increases only once and only for a small share of enrollees.
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage begins Nov. 1. Shoppers should compare plans on HealthCare.gov, since the $500 does not lower future premiums. Free enrollment help may be harder to find, since federal navigator funding was cut from up to $100 million to $10 million a year in 2025. MedicalDaily will report any official guidance on taxes or missing payments.
Key Questions Answered
Who gets the $500 payment? HealthCare.gov enrollees in 30 states who do not receive premium tax credits. Most earn more than 400% of the federal poverty level.
How does the money arrive? By paper check or direct deposit, with a letter from President Trump. Payments began Sept. 30.
Do I need to apply? No. Eligible people do not need to apply, call, or pay anything to receive the refund.
How can I spot a scam? Be wary of any call, text, or email asking for bank details, a fee, gift cards, or a link click to claim the money.
Where can I check my eligibility? Log in to HealthCare.gov or call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596.
Does the refund lower my 2027 premium? No. It is a one-time payment and does not change premiums for 2027 coverage.
Published by Medicaldaily.com
