Roughly 139,000 Texans are expected to receive one-time $500 payments under a federal program for certain Affordable Care Act marketplace enrollees, according to administration data obtained by the Houston Chronicle. Texas has more eligible recipients than any other state.

The Treasury Department began sending checks Wednesday, Sept. 30. About 950,000 people across 30 states are expected to receive payments, although arrival dates remain uncertain, ABC News reported.

Rockwall and Heath residents who meet the program’s criteria may qualify. The available reports do not provide recipient totals for either city.

Who is eligible

The White House says the payments target people who purchased insurance through HealthCare.gov without receiving premium assistance.

An administration official told ABC News that recipients primarily have incomes above 400% of the federal poverty level. Some people earning between 100% and 400% who did not receive subsidies also qualify.

Some households may receive multiple payments by check or direct deposit if more than one member qualifies, an administration official told CBS News.

Why the payments are being issued

The administration says the money comes from surplus fees collected from insurers participating in the federal marketplace. It describes the payments as refunds for costs passed through to consumers under the Biden administration.

That explanation is disputed. KFF health policy researcher Cynthia Cox told Reuters that a surplus does not establish that consumers were overcharged. She attributed much of the surplus to the current administration’s spending cuts, including reductions to enrollment assistance programs.

Avoid payment scams

Do not give banking details or other personal information to someone who unexpectedly contacts you claiming to arrange a government payment. The Federal Trade Commission recommends contacting agencies directly through verified phone numbers and avoiding links in unsolicited messages.

For questions about marketplace coverage, the HealthCare.gov call center is available at 1-800-318-2596.

Enrollment opens Nov. 1

HealthCare.gov currently lists open enrollment for 2027 coverage as Nov. 1 through Jan. 15. Consumers seeking coverage beginning Jan. 1 must enroll by Dec. 15 and pay their first premium, according to the marketplace’s deadline guide.