As of Friday, October 10, the federal government has been shut down for nine days after Congress failed to pass a budget bill that would fund the government and address significant cuts to healthcare and Medicaid. We know this impacts many of you, and you may want to know what to do next. Learn more at the end of this post about ways to take action and share your story.
The government shutdown puts pressure on state and local budgets that are already hurting. The longer the shutdown continues, the greater the disruptions to the services we rely on will be. For now, this is what we know, and we encourage people to continue to check the status:
- The upcoming enrollment periods for Medicare and for marketplace plans are expected to start on time.
- Updates or fixes to the Medicare plan websites may be delayed, and there may not be someone available to answer questions or process applications or appeals about Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare or other federal programs.
- Some telehealth services have not been officially authorized.
- For now, WIC and SNAP food benefits are continuing. SNAP benefits should be issued in full and on time through at least October.
- Federal housing assistance is still funded through November.
Affordable and accessible health care is a human right. Don’t let this administration and its false and despicable claims about immigrants distract us from protecting the affordable healthcare we all need. What’s really at stake is higher health care costs for all of us.
Congress should reopen the government and extend tax credits for the close to 24 million people, including those with chronic conditions, who rely on the credits to purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. Congress should roll back the cuts to Medicaid and health care access it made in July 2025. Congress should understand the needs of the families and communities they represent. No one should have to wait longer, get sicker, or die because of barriers to healthcare, no matter what. Learn more about the potential impact in your state at Keep Americans Covered.
You can use one of the following forms to directly contact your member of Congress now:
- Lower Health Care Costs Now | Families USA
- Tell Congress: Keep The Health Care Tax Credit | Keep Americans Covered
- Tell Congress to Cancel the Devastating Medicaid Cuts and Protect the Affordable Care Act! | Caring Across Generations
- Tell Congress to reject further ICE funding and to restore congressional oversight | Mom’s Rising
- Tell Congress to Fully Fund Federal Housing for People with Disabilities | The Kelsey
Have a story to share? We invite you to tell us about how the shutdown, cuts to Medicaid or other agencies or programs, including housing and education, have impacted you and your families. Please complete this survey.