Updated

The Trump administration announced $500 refunds for nearly 1 million people enrolled in Affordable Care Act plans, though health policy experts said the payments are unlikely to offset the sharp premium increases that followed the lapse of enhanced ACA subsidies. The refunds represent a targeted but limited response to rising health insurance costs facing consumers. Critics argued the relatively small payout does little to address the broader affordability crisis in the individual health insurance market, which has seen premiums climb substantially since the expiration of expanded subsidies.