Medicare Benefits and Coverage During A Federal Government Shutdown

During a federal government shutdown, Medicare benefits and coverage generally continue, but some administrative functions and specific services may be disrupted or delayed.

AlaskaCare Retirees: The federal government shutdown will not change which health plan pays first for retirees. If your Medicare plan is normally primary for you, it will continue to be primary. Any delays in the processing of Medicare enrollments or claim processing will not impact your AlaskaCare benefits. If there are delays in Medicare enrollment processing or claim processing, the Effect of Medicare Provision will not apply.

Continuing Medicare Coverage and Benefits

Because Medicare is largely funded through mandatory spending, beneficiaries' core health coverage is not at risk during a federal government shutdown.

• Existing benefits: Payments to healthcare providers for existing Medicare and Medicaid patients continue. Patients can still see their doctors and access necessary services.
• Open enrollment: The annual open enrollment period, from October 15 to December 7, will proceed. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is still operating, though some website information may be delayed.

Delayed or Disrupted Services

While core benefits are stable, staffing reductions and funding lapses may cause major administrative headaches and service disruptions.

• Operations: As of September 10, 2025, CMS has confirmed that core Medicare operations—including enrollment and coverage—remain active during the federal government shutdown, as Medicare is funded through mandatory spending. However, CMS has implemented a temporary claims hold of up to 10 business days to ensure payment accuracy. This may delay reimbursements but does not impact coverage itself.
• Telehealth services: One of the most immediate impacts of the October 2025 shutdown is the expiration of pandemic-era telehealth waivers. For traditional Medicare patients, the ability to receive many types of telehealth services from home was restricted. Some exceptions, such as for mental health services, remain in place.
• Claims and payments: CMS instructed its contractors to place a temporary hold on processing some claims, causing payment delays for some providers. A prolonged shutdown could lead to more significant delays.
• Longer wait times: With fewer federal staff working, wait times for Medicare's 1-800 number and other customer service inquiries are likely to be longer.
• Enrollment and appeals: While benefit applications and appeals will still be processed, beneficiaries may experience delays due to reduced staff.
• Limited oversight: CMS will be unable to provide some routine oversight of its contractors and other program functions.

How to Access Services

You may access services in the following ways:

• Online access: The Social Security Administration's online services and the Medicare Plan Finder remain available.
• Printed cards: For beneficiaries who lose their Medicare card, a replacement cannot be issued by the Social Security Administration during a shutdown. However, you can create or log into your online Medicare account to print a temporary card.
• Direct help: Community Health Centers and State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) should continue to operate, though their access to federal support staff will be limited.

Note: Legislation that authorized the COVID era expanded telehealth access was not renewed by Congress due to the federal government shutdown.

Resources:

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website website .