ACA refund checks add up to little relief, Omaha family says
So where’s the money actually coming from? The Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office says that’s a federal question.
By Brenna Kiefner, WOWT
(October 14, 2026)
Thousands of Nebraskans enrolled in the Affordable Care Act are receiving letters bearing President Donald Trump’s signature along with a $500 check. The letter calls it a refund.
Lisa Driver and her husband recently got $1,000 from the U.S. Treasury because they both use the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
“Our health insurance went up about $300 a month. So, I mean, this is kind of a drop in the bucket,” Driver said.
Enrollment drop reported statewide
Nebraska For Us, a progressive advocacy group, says enrollment fell roughly 20% statewide in just the first two months of this year, as enhanced tax credits expired.
“We’ve heard from a lot of people who have health insurance plans where they’re paying six or seven hundred more dollars per month this year alone. So in a lot of people’s cases, that doesn’t even make up for the difference in how much more they’re paying this year,” said Collin Adler Ruane with Nebraska For Us.
Source of funding unclear
So where’s the money actually coming from? The Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office says that’s a federal question.
“That is strictly a federal program. You’ll have to contact either the U.S. Treasury Department or U.S. Health and Human Services,” said Jamie Carl with the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office.
First Alert 6 reached out to both the U.S. Treasury Department and U.S. Health and Human Services. As of deadline, neither had responded.
CNN reports the money is from unspent user fees paid by insurers.
For Driver, the $500 check raises more questions than it answers.
“You raise the cost of things by hundreds of dollars a month, and then you give somebody back essentially like $50 a month. That’s not making a meaningful difference,” Driver said.
According to the Treasury Department, the one-time payments were sent to 950,000 Affordable Care Act enrollees in 30 states.
