Logan Reid
Military hospitals and clinics remain open during government shutdowns. The Department of Veterans Affairs confirms that all Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities are expected to remain open and fully functional, with 99% of VHA employees continuing their work. Inpatient care, acute and emergency outpatient care, and certification of eligibility for healthcare benefits are also expected to continue as usual. Military OneSource and Military Family Life Consultants will also remain operational, although they may experience limited access to base facilities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Do military hospitals close during government shutdowns? | No, military hospitals and clinics remain open during government shutdowns. |
| Health benefits | Health benefits should not be affected during a government shutdown. |
| Inpatient care | Inpatient care continues as usual at Department of Defense medical treatment facilities. |
| Outpatient care | Acute and emergency outpatient care continues in DoD medical and dental facilities. |
| VA hospitals | VA hospitals and clinics remain open during government shutdowns. |
| VA health care | Veterans will still be able to access their health care, benefits, and memorial services from VA. |
| Military paychecks | Paychecks may be delayed or suspended during a government shutdown. |
| Tricare | Tricare health plans will continue to cover military members during a government shutdown. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Military hospitals remain open
The Department of Veterans Affairs has stated that all Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities are expected to remain open and fully functional during a government shutdown, and 99% of VHA employees will remain on the job. Only employees performing medical and prosthetic research would be furloughed. This means that veterans will still be able to see their VA doctor or VA Choice provider for any healthcare needs, get their prescriptions filled, and make appointments with medical providers.
Additionally, Military OneSource will remain fully operational during a government shutdown. Call specialists are available, and Military Family Life Consultants (MFLC) will also remain operational, although they may be affected by limited access to base facilities. Military Relief Societies, such as the Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) and Army Emergency Relief (AER), will also continue to operate and provide financial counseling and other assistance to those who are concerned about their financial situation during the shutdown.
While there may be disruptions to non-essential government services during a shutdown, military hospitals and clinics will generally remain open and accessible to those who need them.
Hospitals and Contractors: Who Provides Medical Services?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Inpatient care continues
Inpatient care at military hospitals is expected to continue as usual during government shutdowns. The White House has confirmed that inpatient care will continue at Department of Defense (DoD) medical treatment facilities. This means that active-duty service members and veterans can expect inpatient care to be available to them even during a government shutdown.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has also stated that all Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities will remain open and fully functional during a government shutdown. This includes VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, and Vet Centers. 99% of VHA employees will continue to work during a shutdown, with only those performing medical and prosthetic research being furloughed.
VA health care and benefits will also remain accessible to veterans during a government shutdown. This includes prescription refills, appointments with medical providers, memorial services, compensation, pension, education, and housing benefits. The VA Contact Centers and the Veterans Crisis Line are also open 24/7.
While inpatient care is expected to continue, there may be some disruptions to non-essential services and routine appointments at military hospitals. Military hospitals and clinics are advised to refer to the TRICARE website for current information on the impact of a shutdown. Military families can also seek assistance from Military Relief Societies, which continue to operate during a shutdown and can provide financial counseling and other support.
VCA Animal Hospital: CareCredit Payment Option
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Acute and emergency outpatient care
During a government shutdown, military hospitals and clinics remain open, and health benefits for active-duty service members and military veterans are not affected. This includes acute and emergency outpatient care in Department of Defense (DoD) medical and dental facilities. Inpatient care is also expected to continue as usual.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states that all VA hospitals and clinics will remain open and fully functional, with 99% of VHA employees continuing to work. Veterans will still be able to access their healthcare, benefits, and memorial services from the VA. This includes VA medical centers, outpatient clinics, and vet centers, as well as the processing and delivery of benefits such as compensation, pension, education, and housing.
However, it is important to note that during a government shutdown, some routine appointments and elective surgery appointments may need to be rescheduled. Additionally, while most Tricare users are unaffected, there may be disruptions to Coast Guard members' access to healthcare and benefits. For example, during the 2018-2019 government shutdown, Coast Guard members did not receive paychecks, which impacted their ability to pay for medical and dental insurance premiums.
To summarize, while military hospitals remain open during a government shutdown, there may be some disruptions to non-essential services and appointments. Acute and emergency outpatient care, however, will continue to be available to those who need it.
Hospital Blood Pressure Machines: Calibration Process Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![The Hospital [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61oQ2sBPcmL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
VA health care and benefits
Military hospitals and clinics will remain open during government shutdowns, and veterans will still have access to their healthcare and benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has stated that all Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities will remain open and fully functional, with 96-99% of VHA employees remaining on the job.
Inpatient care, acute and emergency outpatient care, and certification of eligibility for healthcare benefits are expected to continue as usual at Department of Defense medical treatment facilities. This includes VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, and Vet Centers. VA benefits will also continue to be processed and delivered, including compensation, pension, education, and housing benefits. Burials will continue at VA national cemeteries, and applications for headstones, markers, and burial benefits will be processed.
While most VA operations will continue without interruption, there may be some impact on specific services. For example, during the 2018-19 government shutdown, paychecks were suspended for active-duty Coast Guard members, impacting their Tricare enrollment fees and insurance premiums. In addition, employees performing medical and prosthetic research would be furloughed during a shutdown.
To prepare for a potential shutdown, the VA has developed a contingency plan that identifies functions and programs legally exempted to facilitate services for veterans and their families. These exempt services include providing consistent, high-quality medical care, compensation, pension benefits, housing, and burial services. The VA is committed to delivering world-class healthcare and benefits to veterans, even in the event of a shutdown.
Stadium Emergencies: Hospital Proximity to Bengals' Home
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Military pay and financial assistance
During a government shutdown, military hospitals and clinics remain open, and veterans continue to have access to benefits, including memorial services. While the list of agencies affected by a shutdown and the government services available can be confusing, health benefits for most active-duty service members and military veterans should not be affected. Inpatient care is expected to continue as usual at Department of Defense medical treatment facilities, and the same goes for acute and emergency outpatient care in DoD medical and dental facilities.
However, government shutdowns can impact military pay and the financial situation of military personnel and their families. If a funding bill fails to pass Congress, pay is frozen for federal employees, including military personnel. During the 2018-19 government shutdown, paychecks were suspended for about 41,000 active-duty Coast Guard members, 6,000 reservists, and 8,500 civilian employees. This affected the allotments used for Tricare enrollment fees and insurance premiums.
To address these financial challenges, there are several resources available to military personnel and their families during a government shutdown:
- Military Relief Societies: Financial institutions like the Air Force Aid Society (AFAS), Army Emergency Relief (AER), Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA), and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) provide financial counseling and assistance during a shutdown.
- Banking Institutions: Banks like USAA, Navy Federal Credit Union, and Marine Federal Credit Union have been known to advance military pay to their customers during shutdowns. Contact your bank to inquire about their policies.
- Additional Resources: On-base food banks, the Department of the Navy Civilian Employee Assistance Program, Military OneSource, and other community services can provide assistance and referrals to those in need.
It is important to note that military retirement pay is not impacted by a government shutdown as its funding is not subject to congressional funding. Retired military personnel will continue to receive their scheduled pension payments. Additionally, some benefits and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are not affected by a shutdown, including VA medical centers, outpatient clinics, veteran centers, burials, and benefits processing.
Postpartum Drug Testing: What Hospitals Do and Why
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Military hospitals and clinics remain open during government shutdowns.
VA hospitals and clinics remain open during government shutdowns.
Inpatient care is expected to continue as usual at Department of Defense medical treatment facilities.
Acute and emergency outpatient care in DoD medical and dental facilities will continue as usual.
Coast Guard members could be affected. During the 2018-19 government shutdown, paychecks were suspended for about 41,000 active-duty Coast Guard members.
