The Government Is Mailing $500 Checks to Nearly 1 Million Americans (Are You Getting One?)

A surprise $500 check from the federal government is already heading to hundreds of thousands of Americans. The Treasury Department began mailing payments on Sept. 30 to more than 950,000 people, according to CNBC. For households trying to get ahead financially, an unexpected $500 could certainly help.

But this isn't a new stimulus payment available to everyone. The checks are tied specifically to Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace coverage, and the eligibility rules exclude the vast majority of Americans. The key is understanding exactly which coverage and payment history count.

Here's what you need to know.

You need qualifying HealthCare.gov coverage

The White House says the $500 payments are going to people who bought Marketplace insurance without receiving premium assistance, meaning they paid the full premium rather than having a premium tax credit lower the cost. The payments are $500 per eligible person, not per household, so a family with multiple qualifying enrollees could receive more than one check.

Most recipients are expected to be people with incomes above 400% of the federal poverty level — roughly $63,000 for one person or $129,000 for a family of four — who lost federal premium assistance when the enhanced ACA subsidies expired. Some people with incomes between 100% and 400% of the poverty level may also qualify. The Trump administration says the payments are coming from surplus Marketplace user-fee revenue that it argues was ultimately passed on to consumers through higher premiums.

There is no separate application to submit — eligible recipients have already been identified from Marketplace records.

Only people in these 30 states are included

The program applies to people whose 2026 Marketplace coverage used the federal HealthCare.gov platform.

CMS lists the 30 states as 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.

The reason for the checks is disputed

The Trump administration describes the payments as refunds of excessive Marketplace "user fees." The White House says insurers passed those fees through to consumers in premiums, while the federal government collected more than it needed to operate HealthCare.gov and accumulated an unused surplus.

There is another interpretation, however. CMS's 2026 payment rule, finalized in January 2025, set the federal Marketplace user fee at 2.5% of monthly premiums specifically to fund exchange operations based partly on expected enrollment. As reported by the Associated Press, a KFF analysis indicated that some $1 billion in unspent funds may trace back to user fees collected during Trump's first administration, complicating the claim that the entire surplus resulted from Biden-era overcharges.

You don't need to apply or pay anyone

If you qualify, there's no form to fill out and no processing fee to pay. The payments are being mailed automatically, and reporting on the program says recipients don't need to take additional action to receive them.

That makes the program an obvious target for scammers. The Federal Trade Commission warns that legitimate government agencies don't require you to pay money or hand over financial-account information to receive a refund. Be especially suspicious of texts, emails, or calls asking you to provide banking information to "unlock" a $500 payment.

This isn't a Medicare or tariff-dividend check

For people approaching retirement, the distinction matters. This $500 payment is connected to ACA Marketplace insurance, which many people use before becoming eligible for Medicare at 65. Medicare isn't part of the ACA Marketplace, and people who already have Medicare likely don't use Marketplace coverage.

The payment is also separate from proposals for a much larger tariff-funded "dividend." Those proposals have been discussed publicly but are not the same program as these ACA refunds. Likewise, the $500 Marketplace payment isn't a general IRS stimulus or direct-deposit program available simply because you filed a tax return.

Bottom line

Were you enrolled through HealthCare.gov in 2026, paid your Marketplace premium without a tax credit, and lived in one of the 30 participating states? If so, you may be among the more than 950,000 people receiving a $500 Treasury check automatically. If you received premium assistance, used a separate state Marketplace, or were already covered through Medicare instead, this particular refund generally isn't aimed at you.

If you're uncertain, verify your Marketplace history through your HealthCare.gov account or contact the official Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 rather than responding to an unsolicited message. A legitimate $500 payment won't solve every affordability problem, but putting unexpected money toward essentials, debt, or savings could help you cope with increasing bills without putting your personal information at risk.

You May Also Like

23 Ways To Get Money Without Getting A Second Job

By FinanceBuzz Editors

How To Save Money on Car Insurance: 12 Ways to Lower Rates

By Elyssa Kirkham

10 Things Seniors Born Between 1941-1969 Could Take Advantage Of

By FinanceBuzz Editors

19 Dumbest Things Smart People Waste Money On

By Team FBZ

7 Moves If You Want to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck

By FinanceBuzz Editors

7 Clever Ways to Crush Your Debt

By FinanceBuzz Editors

Up To 5% Cash Back

Discover it^® Cash Back

Benefits Card Details

• Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
• $0 annual fee
• Apply Now

• INTRO OFFER: Receive a $200 statement credit when you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months of account opening
• UNLIMITED CASHBACK MATCH: Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300. Click Apply Now to view important rates and disclosures
• Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
• Redeem cash back for any amount. Every $1 you earn in cash back is $1 you can redeem
• Rewards don't expire for the life of the account
• No annual fee and no foreign transaction fee
• Lock your card in the Mobile app if it’s misplaced, lost, or stolen
• You're covered by $0 Fraud Liability for unauthorized charges

4.7

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Apply Now

on Issuer's secure website

Rates and fees

Read Card Review

Intro Offer

UNLIMITED CASHBACK MATCH: Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300. Click Apply Now to view important rates and disclosures. Plus, receive a $200 statement credit when you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months of account opening

Annual Fee

$0

+ -

Why we like it

• The Discover it^® Cash Back is ideal for anyone who loves flexible rewards options.

• Cardholders can redeem their cash back for any amount.

• Earn 5% cash back on rotating bonus categories up to the quarterly maximum when you activate, along with 1% cash back on all purchases.

• Apply Now

---

Subscribe Today

Learn how to make an extra $200

Get vetted side hustles and proven ways to earn extra cash sent to your inbox.

or

Subscribe Now →

By submitting this form you agree to receive emails from FinanceBuzz and to the privacy policy and terms