How Medicare Is Affected by a Government Shutdown

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill failed to reach a continuing resolution to fund the government, resulting in a government shutdown at midnight on October 1, 2025.

A government shutdown triggers the furlough of non-essential employees. Many agencies, departments and services will be interrupted until the government reopens. Medicare is one of the many services affected by a government shutdown.

Some agencies — including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) — will continue to provide essential services, albeit with a reduced staff. That means during this funding lapse, Medicare, as well as Medicaid programs and services, will continue, according to the latest CMS contingency plan.

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Medicare and Medicaid — essential services

The government categorizes Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security as mandatory programs, which are funded by existing laws; therefore, they do not require an annual vote by Congress to continue operating. This is separate from the many other agencies and departments that are currently shut down because Congress failed to pass the bills that would have keep them funded.

The upshot is that, under CMS, you will continue to receive Medicare benefits even during a shutdown. Social Security checks, too, would not be affected by a government shutdown.

During a shutdown, other CMS programs that will continue include the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation services. CMS will also maintain the necessary staff to continue making payments to states that administer the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage.

Other activities that are unaffected include the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center’s patient care and admittance of new patients, if medically necessary, as well as the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) maintenance of core emergency functions such as monitoring for, and responding to, foodborne illness and flu outbreaks, HHS said.

Medicare and Medicaid — what would be impacted

About 49% of CMS staff will be furloughed, and certain services are paused during a shutdown, according to the contingency plan. This could lead to longer wait times to speak with a CMS representative.

You will also need to wait until the government reopens to replace your Medicare card. The Social Security Administration, which administers Medicare cards, said it will continue certain activities — including those related to the timely payment of benefits — but that it's pausing the replacement of Medicare cards, among other services.

At HHS overall, about 45% of staff will be furloughed; however, those working on specific operations that have substantial direct-service components will be retained. This includes a limited number of employees to support funded activities, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and other mandatory health program payments, HHS said.

Agencies are required to provide contingency plans in the event of a federal shutdown. You can find links to agency contingency plans at the Office of Management and Budget.

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