Will You Get Trump’s $5,000 Check or a $500 ACA Refund? Here’s Who Gets Paid

President Trump has talked about two different payments: a $5,000 dividend check for adults and a $500 Affordable Care Act refund for some HealthCare.gov customers.

The main difference is simple: the $500 ACA refunds are already being mailed, while the $5,000 checks are only a proposal and have not been approved by Congress.
 

Trump’s $5,000 checks: Not approved yet

Trump says he would send $5,000 to adult U.S. citizens if Republicans keep control of the House and Senate in the 2026 midterm elections.

But the payments are not guaranteed. Congress would need to pass a law and approve the money before checks could be sent. House Speaker Mike Johnson has said congressional approval would be needed.

The proposal could cost more than $1 trillion, depending on how many people qualify and whether high-income adults are excluded. No payment date, application process or final eligibility rules have been announced.

For now, do not expect a $5,000 check unless Congress approves it.
 

$500 ACA refund checks: Already being mailed

The $500 ACA refunds are real. The Treasury Department began mailing them in late September 2026 to more than 950,000 eligible people.

The administration says the money comes from excess fees paid by insurers that sell plans through HealthCare.gov.
 

Who gets the $500 ACA refund?

You may qualify if you:

• Bought a 2026 ACA health plan through HealthCare.gov.

• Paid the full premium yourself.

• Did not receive a premium tax credit.

• Live in one of the 30 states that use the federal marketplace.

People who received premium assistance or bought coverage through a state-run marketplace may not qualify.

The 30 states are:

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. 
 

Do you need to apply for the $500 refund?

No. The administration says eligible people have already been identified and do not need to apply.

Watch your mailbox for:

• A U.S. Treasury check.

• An official letter explaining the payment.

• Information identifying the check as an ACA refund.

Do not pay anyone to claim the refund. Never give your Social Security number, bank details or other personal information to an unexpected caller, text or email.
 

Why ACA premiums went up

Many ACA customers are paying more for health insurance because enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025.

KFF reports that average monthly premium payments rose from $113 in 2025 to $178 in 2026, a 58% increase.

The one-time $500 refund may help some people, but it does not permanently lower monthly health insurance premiums.
 

What to do now

If you think you qualify for the $500 ACA refund:

1. Check whether you bought coverage through HealthCare.gov.

2. Confirm you lived in one of the 30 participating states.

3. Watch your mail for an official Treasury check.

4. Do not pay anyone to claim it.

5. Verify suspicious messages through official government websites.
    

Bottom line

The $500 ACA refund checks are being mailed to eligible HealthCare.gov customers in 30 states.

The $5,000 Trump dividend checks are not approved. They remain a promise that would require Congress to pass legislation and fund the program.

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