| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: October 9, 2026 Contact: Ethan Holmes [email protected] |
| October 9, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HELENA, Mont. — State Auditor James Brown praises the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for returning more than $7 million in Affordable Care Act (ACA), otherwise known as Obamacare, overcharges to more than 14,000 Montanans as part of the Trump Administration’s broader efforts to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs. The previous administration overcharged Americans via “user fees” on the ACA plan exchange. The fees were passed on to consumers through health insurance premiums. The surplus funds were not used to benefit those paying the increased costs. Nearly a million Americans in the 30 states that utilize the federal ACA exchange, including those in Montana, will receive $500 refund checks if they did already not receive premium assistance. CMS will begin sending refund checks to eligible Americans this month. CMS identified 14,093 Montanans who will receive the checks, totaling $7,046,500 in refunds. “Government, at every level, must ensure that it’s not needlessly taking more money from taxpayers than it needs to operate,” Auditor Brown said. “I’m glad to see CMS under the Trump Administration taking steps to identify past overcharges and return money to American families. This action is in keeping with the pledge I have made to keep Montana affordable for families.” As Montana’s chief insurance regulator, Auditor Brown has helped to stop tens of millions of dollars in unsupported payouts by insurers impacted by an Obamacare fraud scheme that targeted and exploited Montana’s native communities. Since July of 2025, Auditor Brown has also saved Montanans nearly $19 million by denying unjustified insurance rate increases. Montanans who have questions about the ACA marketplace or their health insurance coverage can contact the Auditor’s office at 406-444-2040 or find information online at the agency’s website, csimt.gov. ### 840 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 (main fax) 406.444.3413 I (securities fax) 406.444.5558 (insurance consumer services fax) 406.444.1980 I (legal fax) 406.444.3499 (phone) 800.332.6148 or 406.444.2040 I (email) [email protected] I (web) www.csimt.gov |
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