Every time Washington plays chicken with a government shutdown, millions of Americans feel the effects. But none are more vulnerable than our nation’s seniors — those who rely most on federal health care programs and steady government oversight to protect their access to doctors, prescriptions, and treatment options.
The American Action Forum recently sounded the alarm in its report, “Shutdowns Show Why Government-Run Health Care Is Risky.” The warning is clear: if we move toward a system where government controls an even larger share of America’s health care, shutdown chaos could become a permanent feature rather than an occasional crisis.
When government funding dries up, “non-essential” services pause, employees are furloughed, and priorities shift overnight. Contracts are delayed, research and development funding halts, and the approval of new drugs and medical devices slows to a crawl. Bureaucratic paralysis spreads through the system. For seniors on fixed incomes who rely on timely care, that can mean real consequences — delays in getting the treatments or medications they need, longer wait times, and increased anxiety over what’s coming next.
Imagine what would happen if the same dynamic defined the entire health system. In a government-run model — whether it’s “Medicare for All,” a “public option,” or any variation in between — health care becomes another line item on a massive federal budget. It’s one more thing politicians can hold hostage during a standoff, one more pawn in the partisan chess game.
That’s not hypothetical. It’s what we already see during shutdowns. Essential personnel stay on duty, but every other function — including the regulatory, administrative, and payment systems that underpin modern health care — slows down or stops entirely. For a senior who depends on Medicare reimbursements to keep their doctor’s office afloat or relies on federal agencies to approve new medical technology, those delays can be life-altering.
Seniors are the canaries in the coal mine. They are the ones who feel the brunt of government dysfunction first and hardest. And yet, some in Washington seem determined to give the same government even more control over our health care system.
That’s the wrong direction. We should be doing the opposite — encouraging competition, flexibility, and resilience so health care doesn’t grind to a halt every time Congress can’t agree on a budget.
Here’s what that looks like.
First, strengthen and protect Medicare — don’t replace it. Medicare has served seniors for decades, but it needs reform, not expansion into a one-size-fits-all model. Target fraud, reduce waste, and modernize delivery systems, but keep Medicare’s foundation intact.
Second, expand choice and competition. Seniors deserve the freedom to pick plans that work best for their needs, whether that’s traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or private supplemental coverage. Competition among plans and providers helps control costs and improve service — something no government monopoly has ever done well.
Third, ensure stability. Health care oversight and regulation should be insulated from the political brinkmanship that drives shutdowns. That means creating safeguards — multi-year funding for essential health operations, stronger contingency plans, and an end to the weaponization of seniors’ health for political leverage.
Finally, demand accountability. If taxpayers are funding health care programs, they should know where every dollar goes. Seniors, in particular, deserve transparency and results, not bureaucratic excuses.
For decades, Democrats have tried to scare seniors into believing Republicans want to take away their Medicare or Social Security. The truth is the opposite: Republicans want to save them from the fate of every other government-run program that collapses under mismanagement and debt. When Democrats push for “Medicare for All,” they’re not expanding access — they’re expanding bureaucracy. And when government fails, it’s seniors who suffer first.
Every shutdown is a warning shot. It shows exactly what happens when Washington can’t get its act together — and what would happen on a much larger scale if it controlled the entire health system. Seniors have earned peace of mind and stability, not the chaos that comes with turning health care into a political football.
The lesson is simple: the more government controls, the more it can shut down. The more it shuts down, the more seniors pay the price.
It’s time to stop gambling with seniors’ health and start building a system that puts patients — not politicians — in charge.