Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently returned 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. According to State Auditor James Brown, the previous administration overcharged Americans via “user fees” on the ACA plan exchange.  

“The fees were passed on to consumers through health insurance premiums,” said Brown. “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.” 

Brown said 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,” said Brown. “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.” 

Brown is Montana’s chief insurance regulator and he said he 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, Brown has also saved Montanans nearly $19 million by denying unjustified insurance rate increases. 

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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.