Trump's $500 Obamacare 'rebate' checks land in prime political battlegrounds
XLV•The Trump administration is sending $500 payments to 950,000 people who buy full-price Affordable Care Act coverage through HealthCare.gov, with 71% of the $339 million total going to residents of 13 battleground states. The payments arrive weeks before the November 3 midterm election.
1. Payments reach battleground states
The administration is sending $500 checks this week to nearly 1 million Americans, describing them as refunds for excessive fees charged to people who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act. The payments are limited to eligible residents in the 30 states that use HealthCare.gov; people in 20 states with their own marketplaces will not receive them.
2. Electoral impact debated
A Reuters analysis of government data found that 71% of the payments, totaling $339 million, will go to residents of 13 battleground states. Democratic candidates and strategists called the checks an attempt to influence the election, while Republican strategist Ryan Williams said they could sway voters on the margins. Cornell professor Douglas Kriner said the payments might be worth a percentage point or two electorally.
3. Costs remain a concern
The checks go to people paying full price for coverage, rather than those receiving subsidies. The White House said most recipients report household incomes above four times the federal poverty level, roughly $132,000 for a family of four. KFF vice president Cynthia Cox said the $500 is unlikely to offset most recipients' higher premiums.
