How a government shutdown would affect Medicare, Medicaid benefits

A government shutdown could wreak havoc on many federally funded programs if lawmakers cannot negotiate a spending deal by the Saturday deadline, including potential disruptions to some services provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Medicare benefits will not be affected, and Medicaid has full funding for the next three months. While the agency is partially shielded from the impending tumult, it would retain fewer than half of its employees — many unpaid — until the potential shutdown ends, according to the updated Health and Human Services contingency plan released Thursday.