As the new year dawned, Marylanders found themselves at a crossroads in health care affordability, while Americans nationwide continued to grapple with shifting federal relief policies and a barrage of rumors about stimulus checks and new government payments. Against this backdrop, state officials, advocates, and federal leaders are taking urgent steps to clarify what help is actually available—and what’s just political talk or outright scam.
On January 5, 2026, Maryland officials gathered at the Center for Urban Families in Baltimore to rally support for the state’s Easy Enrollment program, a simple yet powerful tool designed to connect residents with affordable health insurance. This renewed push comes at a critical moment: the expiration of federal tax credits that, until December 31, 2025, helped around 190,000 Marylanders pay for their health coverage. According to Maryland Matters, the loss of these credits has left many facing “higher health insurance premiums” and, for some, the real prospect of going without insurance altogether.
“As the clock struck midnight on Dec. 31, thousands of Marylanders greeted the New Year not with cheers, but with increased anxiety,” said Comptroller Brooke Lierman. “With increased worry and concern at the prospect of going without health insurance because they are now facing higher health insurance premiums.” Lierman’s remarks, echoed by other officials and advocates, underscore the sense of unease gripping many households as they navigate a new landscape of rising costs and reduced federal support.
The Easy Enrollment program, now in its fifth year, offers a straightforward solution: by simply checking a box on their state tax return, Marylanders can signal their interest in exploring health insurance options through the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace. The exchange then reaches out to those households, providing information about available plans and determining eligibility for state-based subsidies or even Medicaid. It’s a process designed to “use government processes to the absolute benefit of Marylanders,” as Health and Government Operations Vice Chair Bonnie Cullison put it. “When given information from the Comptroller’s office … the exchange can quickly determine the eligibility for free or reduced health care options—or help folks compare plans that will best meet their needs.”
The urgency behind this campaign is clear. With the end of the federal advanced premium tax credits, Maryland is set to lose about $150 million in assistance, a shortfall that state lawmakers have tried to address by creating a new subsidy program. This state-based initiative, however, is expected to generate only about $75 million in 2026—half of what was lost at the federal level—and is primarily aimed at lower-income families. While some Marylanders may continue to enjoy the same level of savings as before, others may see their premiums rise or find themselves ineligible for state help.
The impact is not limited to Maryland. The expiration of the enhanced federal tax credits is expected to affect some 20 million Americans who benefited from the Affordable Care Act’s assistance, leading to higher premiums across the board. In Maryland specifically, regulators have approved an average 13.4% premium rate increase for private insurance plans this year, according to Maryland Matters. For families already struggling to make ends meet, these increases are more than just numbers—they’re a real threat to financial security and access to care.
To help spread the word, Vincent DeMarco of the Maryland Health Care All coalition announced a $100,000 informational campaign aimed at reaching uninsured Marylanders. The message is simple but urgent: “If you’re uninsured and you missed Open Enrollment, and you’re eligible for Medicaid—check the box at tax time and you could get enrolled,” DeMarco said. “It is especially important now.”
Meanwhile, on the national stage, the conversation around government relief has taken on a different tenor. Throughout 2025 and into early 2026, rumors have swirled about new rounds of federal stimulus checks, IRS direct deposits, and even so-called “tariff dividends” and “DOGE dividends” proposed by President Donald Trump and his administration. But according to a fact check by FOX 5 and the Associated Press, these claims often outpace reality.
The facts are straightforward: the last federal economic impact payments were issued in 2021, with some automatic payments going out in late 2024 and early 2025 for taxpayers who hadn’t claimed the earlier credits. The final opportunity to claim the $1,400 Recovery Rebate Credit was by filing a 2021 tax return before April 15, 2025—a deadline that has now passed. No new federal stimulus payments have been approved by Congress or announced by the IRS, despite persistent online rumors.
President Trump has floated the idea of a $2,000 “tariff dividend” for every American, funded by import taxes. During a December 2, 2025 cabinet meeting, Trump claimed the U.S. is collecting “trillions of dollars” from tariffs and suggested that 2026 could be “the largest tax refund season ever.” But independent analyses tell a different story. The Tax Foundation estimated that such payments would cost between $279.8 billion and $606.8 billion, while projected tariff revenue for 2026 is only about $207.5 billion—far short of what’s needed to fund the payments and reduce the federal deficit, as Trump has claimed.
Critics point out that, rather than benefiting households, import taxes have actually cost the average American family nearly $1,200 since Trump returned to office in February 2025, according to a report from Congressional Democrats using Treasury Department and Goldman Sachs data. The committee found that consumers’ share of these costs totaled nearly $159 billion over a ten-month period.
Other proposals, such as a “DOGE dividend” paid in cryptocurrency, have not materialized and remain largely speculative. Economists warn that such direct payments could fuel inflation by boosting consumer spending, a concern echoed by some Republican lawmakers who previously criticized similar measures under President Biden’s pandemic relief package.
One area where new federal payments are real, however, is in support for the military. In December 2025, President Trump announced a one-time, tax-free $1,776 “Warrior Dividend” for about 1.5 million service members, including 1.28 million active duty members and 174,000 reservists. Funded through a $2.9 billion military housing supplement in the president’s One Big Beautiful Bill, these payments are being distributed as a nontaxable supplement to monthly housing allowances. U.S. Coast Guard members will receive a similar one-time “Devotion to Duty” bonus of $2,000 before taxes, with take-home amounts closer to $1,776. These payments, unlike the rumored stimulus checks, are backed by legislation and are already being distributed.
Amid all this, the IRS continues to warn taxpayers about scams impersonating government stimulus programs. The agency stresses that it never contacts taxpayers via email, text, or social media to initiate payments, and that any legitimate communication will come first by official letter. The IRS has also ended most unannounced visits by revenue officers, aiming to improve safety and reduce confusion for both taxpayers and employees.
For Marylanders and Americans everywhere, the message is clear: while the landscape of government relief is shifting, real help is available—but only through official channels and programs. As officials urge residents to use tools like Easy Enrollment and remain vigilant against scams, the broader challenge of navigating health care and economic uncertainty remains at the forefront of daily life.
