President Donald Trump has announced his administration’s intention to issue $500 checks to many Americans allegedly overcharged under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.
On Thursday, the White House released a video featuring Trump declaring the issuance of these “rebate checks.” He indicated that these would reach “nearly 1 million hardworking Americans who were wrongly overcharged through Obamacare.”
An executive order followed, stating that these rebates would be directed to Americans in 30 states. The aim is to “directly refund the Americans most exposed to the higher costs imposed by the Biden Administration’s gross mismanagement of Obamacare.”
The funding for these rebates stems from a $500 million surplus. The White House attributes this surplus to ACA exchange fees that were incorrectly charged to consumers under former President Joe Biden.
Before the White House’s announcement, Axios reported on the plan. Some advocates of expanded federal health coverage have criticized the plan. Protect Our Care, identified with left-leaning views, labeled the plan as a “gimmick” and an “insult to working families grappling with the GOP health care crisis.”
This announcement follows closely on the heels of another declaration by Trump. The day prior, he promised a “dividend” payment to voters if Republicans maintain control of Congress after the upcoming November elections.
During the party’s first midterm convention in Dallas, Texas on Wednesday, Trump stated, “If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, both of them, I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000.”
This is a developing story. More updates are expected.