(Helena) – More than 14,000 Montanans will receive financial refunds this month following a federal review of Affordable Care Act exchange fees. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, identified overcharges totaling more than seven million dollars for Montana residents who utilized the federal health insurance marketplace. Nationwide, nearly one million Americans across 30 states are eligible for the refunds.
The federal agency determined that past user fees on the exchange were passed on to consumers through elevated health insurance premiums, creating a surplus that did not benefit policyholders. Eligible individuals who did not already receive premium assistance will receive individual refund checks of 500 dollars.
Montanans with questions regarding their eligibility, health insurance coverage, or the ACA marketplace can contact the State Auditor’s office directly at 406-444-2040. Additional information and resources are also available online at the agency’s official website, csimt.gov.
