HELENA—More than 14,000 Montanans are set to receive a combined $7 million in refunds tied to overcharges on Obamacare health plans, according to Montana State Auditor James Brown.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services identified 14,093 Montana residents who are eligible for $500 refund checks, representing a total of $7,046,500.
The refunds stem from surplus user fees collected through the federal Obamacare marketplace and passed along to consumers through health insurance premiums.
CMS is returning the excess funds to eligible consumers who did not receive premium assistance. Refund checks are expected to begin going out this month.
Nationwide, nearly one million people across the 30 states that use the federal Obamacare exchange are expected to receive refunds.
Brown praised the decision, saying government agencies should not collect more money from consumers than necessary to operate their programs.
The refunds come as Brown’s office continues its oversight of Montana’s insurance market. As the state’s chief insurance regulator, Brown has also focused on insurance fraud and rate increases.
His office said it has blocked tens of millions of dollars in unsupported insurer payments connected to an alleged Obamacare fraud scheme involving Montana Native communities.
Since July 2025, the auditor’s office also says it has saved Montana consumers nearly $19 million by rejecting insurance rate increases it determined were not justified.