Congress has until Saturday to avert a government shutdown that would disrupt the U.S. economy and the lives of millions of Americans who work for the government or rely on federal services.
Late Tuesday, the Senate unveiled a bipartisan stopgap measure to keep the office funded through Nov. 17. But the measure has been mired in controversy, with a small but growing number of Republicans in the House threatening to oppose it because Ukraine needs billions of dollars in supplemental funding.
In response to the growing chaos, Biden warned Republican conservatives about their hard-line tactics, saying late Monday that funding the federal government was “one of Congress’ most fundamental responsibilities.”
The shutdown means that a wide range of Americans may face hardship, from military personnel and air traffic controllers who are asked to work without pay to the approximately 7 million people in programs for women, infants and children, including half of the babies born in 2019. The United States could lose nutritional benefits, according to the White House.
However, there is good news for some, including Medicare beneficiaries. Major government programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security (members of the “mandatory spending” category) are largely unaffected because Congress has approved spending on these programs indefinitely. According to the Congressional Budget Office.
‘Medicare services will largely continue as usual,’ say AARP’s Dena Bunis and Kenneth Terrell wrote in an article Released this week. However, the longer the shutdown continues, the greater the likelihood that health insurance providers will experience payment lags.
For Medicare beneficiaries, experts say there are specific questions about how the shutdown might affect them, and here’s what’s known.
I’m on Medicare. Can I still get care during the shutdown?
Yes, according to AARP. Even during the federal shutdown, Medicare members can still see doctors, go to hospitals and get their prescriptions filled.
I need to enroll in Medicare as soon as possible. Will shutting down prevent me from doing this?
No, according to AARP. Applications will still be available at ssav.gov and the Medicare hotline at 800-633-4227 will continue to operate.
Open enrollment for Medicare is scheduled to begin on October 15. Will the shutdown disrupt everything?
According to AARP, it shouldn’t be done. “Even a prolonged shutdown would not affect beneficiaries’ ability to review their plans and make any changes,” Bounis and Terrell wrote. That’s because the programs that advise participants are run by states.
What if I lose my Medicare card during the shutdown?
Unfortunately, you’re going to be out of luck until the government shutdown is over, according to AARP. Why? Such cards are issued by the Social Security Administration, which said no cards will be issued during this period.
Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim, Kevin Freking and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
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