A government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, and if you have Medicare, you need to know how this affects your benefits. The good news is that your coverage continues, but there are some changes to services and support you should know about. Understanding what stays the same and what’s temporarily limited will help you plan your healthcare needs during this period. Keep reading to learn more.
Your Medicare Benefits Continue Uninterrupted
Despite the government shutdown, you can breathe easier knowing that your Medicare benefits remain fully active. You’ll still receive your healthcare coverage exactly as you did before the shutdown began. This means you can visit your doctor, get prescriptions filled, go to the hospital, and access all the medical services covered under your plan without any disruption.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ensured that essential Medicare operations would continue during the funding impasse in Congress. Medicare and Medicaid are classified as entitlement programs, which means they’re protected during government shutdowns. Your monthly premiums don’t change, your deductibles remain the same, and your copayments stay at their regular amounts. If you’re enrolled in Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, your coverage stays in effect.
Healthcare providers will continue receiving payments for the services they deliver to Medicare beneficiaries. This is crucial because it means doctors, hospitals, and other medical facilities won’t stop accepting Medicare patients during the shutdown. You won’t face delays in getting care due to provider concerns about payment processing.
Medicare Open Enrollment Moves Forward
If you’re planning to make changes to your Medicare coverage during the annual Open Enrollment period (October 15 – December 7), you’ll be relieved to know that this critical time frame continues as planned. CMS updated the Medicare Plan Finder with 2026 plan information before the shutdown took effect, so you can still compare plans and make enrollment decisions.
The 1-800-MEDICARE helpline remains operational throughout the shutdown. You can call this number to get answers about your coverage, ask questions about different plans, or receive assistance with enrollment decisions. While the service continues, you might experience longer wait times due to reduced staffing levels across federal agencies. For faster service, call 866-633-4427 to speak with a licensed agent.
However, there’s an important caveat to be aware of. The Medicare.gov website may have limited or delayed updates during the shutdown. While you can still access the site and use tools like the Plan Finder, some information might not be as current as it would be during normal operations. The website itself displays a notice informing visitors that updates may be affected, though your actual benefits and coverage aren’t impacted by these website limitations.
Reduced Support and Oversight
While your benefits continue, you’ll notice reduced support services during the shutdown. Federal staff availability is significantly limited, which affects various assistance programs. State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) can continue their regular activities helping Medicare beneficiaries, but they won’t have access to their usual HHS contacts for technical assistance or complex questions.
CMS has furloughed approximately half of its staff during the shutdown. This means there’s less oversight of major contractors, including the Medicare Call Center. While the call center continues operating, the reduced federal supervision could affect service quality or response times for complex issues. You might find it takes longer to resolve complicated problems or get answers to unusual questions.
Certain rulemaking processes are also on hold during the shutdown. If you were expecting new Medicare policies or program updates to be announced, these will likely be delayed until normal government operations resume. This doesn’t affect existing rules or current coverage, but it means any planned improvements or changes to Medicare programs will be postponed.
Social Security Services Run With Limitations
Since many Medicare beneficiaries also receive Social Security benefits, it’s important to understand how the shutdown affects Social Security Administration (SSA) services. Your Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments will arrive on schedule without any changes to payment dates. This is another protected benefit that continues regardless of the shutdown.
Social Security offices remain open to the public, but they’re providing reduced services. You can still handle essential tasks like applying for benefits, requesting appeals, changing your address or direct deposit information, and reporting important life changes. If you’re an SSI recipient, you can still report changes in your living arrangement or income. You can also obtain a new or replacement Social Security card if needed.
However, some services aren’t available during the shutdown. SSA offices can’t provide proof of benefits letters or update earnings records until normal operations resume. If you need these documents for Medicare related purposes, you’ll need to wait until the government reopens. Hearing offices continue conducting hearings before Administrative Law Judges, but in-person service requests may not all be fulfilled immediately.
Conclusion
The government shutdown creates some inconveniences, but your Medicare coverage and benefits remain secure. You can continue seeing your doctors, getting medical treatments, and accessing all covered services without interruption. Your healthcare providers will receive their payments, and your enrollment rights during Medicare Open Enrollment are protected. While you might encounter longer wait times for customer service or delayed website updates, these are temporary issues that don’t affect your actual healthcare coverage.
Don’t let the shutdown stop you from reviewing your Medicare options during Open Enrollment. This is your annual opportunity to evaluate whether your current plan still meets your needs or if switching to a different plan could save you money and provide better coverage. If you have any questions or need additional support, help is available at Senior Healthcare Solutions. For more information about Medicare Open Enrollment, please call 866-633-4427 to speak with one of our Medicare experts.
