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The workers whose health care is most at stake in the government shutdown

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  Published in Politics and Government on Monday, October 20th 2025 at 12:19 GMT by New Hampshire Union Leader
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The recent federal government shutdown has exposed a silent crisis that will hit thousands of federal employees who rely on their government‑provided health benefits to keep themselves and their families healthy. In a feature for the Union Leader, “The workers whose health care is most at stake in the government shutdown,” the article lays out the stakes, the stories of those most vulnerable, and the policy choices that will determine whether those workers can stay covered while Congress sits on the sidelines.

The FEHB System Under Threat

At the heart of the problem is the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, a private‑sector insurance plan that covers over 9 million federal workers, retirees, and their families. FEHB is a partnership between the federal government and private insurers: the government pays a share of the premiums and the employees pay the rest. When the government shuts down, payroll is halted, and the portion of the premiums the federal government owes can no longer be disbursed. Employees who are on payroll during the shutdown can still pay their premiums, but for many who are furloughed or working remotely, there is simply no money to cover the cost of health insurance.

The article highlights that this means more than just a temporary inconvenience. A health‑care worker at a federal hospital in Portsmouth, for instance, could lose access to routine care for a chronic condition if her insurance premiums go unpaid. The same is true for federal law enforcement officers, public works crews, and the numerous civil servants who keep the federal bureaucracy running.

The Human Toll

The feature moves beyond numbers to tell the stories of workers whose personal health care is most at stake. One account is of a young mother, whose husband works for the Department of Housing and Urban Development in Manchester. Because the department has been furloughed, she is unable to pay her portion of the FEHB premium, and the family’s only other option is a high‑deductible plan that leaves them vulnerable to costly out‑of‑pocket expenses. She describes how her infant’s regular check‑ups have been postponed, “because the doctor doesn’t know whether we still have insurance.”

Another vignette is that of a veteran who works for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in Concord. Even though the VA provides free health care to veterans, the department’s shutdown has slowed the processing of medical claims for federal employees. The veteran’s sister—who has a serious health condition—has seen her scheduled surgery delayed by weeks. “The VA is supposed to be a lifeline,” the veteran says, “but when the federal payroll stops, so does the flow of care.”

Impact on the VA and Public Health Services

The shutdown’s reach extends far beyond payroll. The VA’s own insurance program, which provides coverage to both veterans and employees, could see a significant backlog of claims and appointments. The article notes that the VA is one of the largest employers of federal workers in New Hampshire and that the department serves millions of veterans nationwide. Delays in service could mean increased wait times, missed preventive screenings, and a spike in uncompensated care costs that ultimately burden taxpayers and the federal budget.

Beyond the VA, the article references other agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). With no funding, research projects stalled, and public health programs slowed, the potential for outbreaks or delayed medical advances is heightened—an indirect threat that extends into the communities these workers serve.

Policy Options and Congressional Response

The feature does not shy away from the policy debate that surrounds the shutdown. It cites experts who argue that Congress should pass a temporary extension of the federal payroll and health‑benefit payments—an approach that would allow workers to remain covered while a more permanent budget agreement is negotiated. The article quotes the head of the Federal Employees Union, who says, “We are not asking for special treatment. We’re asking for the same basic rights that any employee should have during a normal work cycle.”

The article also highlights that some members of Congress have already signaled willingness to take action. A joint resolution in the Senate, referenced in the text, would earmark funds for health‑benefit payments during a shutdown. Meanwhile, the House has drafted a bill that would allow the federal government to continue paying a portion of FEHB premiums for furloughed workers for up to 30 days.

The Bottom Line

In sum, the Union Leader’s piece paints a stark picture of a government shutdown that does more than stop the printing press or delay tax refunds—it puts the health and well‑being of federal workers and their families on the line. By focusing on the workers whose health care is most at stake, the article forces readers to recognize that the stakes are personal. The decision on whether Congress will act, and how, will determine whether the federal workforce can maintain continuity of care—or whether a sudden interruption in coverage will ripple out into wider public health risks.