Life Style & Wellness

Share how the ongoing US government shutdown could impact your access to food or health insurance | American policy


More than 40 million Americans will stop receiving food stamps on November 1, as the US government shutdown enters its fifth week.

The Agriculture Department says the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be suspended until Congress reopens the government. While the Trump administration argues that the department does not have the legal authority to use a $5 billion emergency fund to continue aid, Democrats disagree, and 24 states have sued the government to force the program to continue.

Meanwhile, Democrats are also refusing to vote to end the shutdown because health insurance costs are expected to rise significantly as insurers prepare to roll back subsidies. Senate Democrats are demanding that any short-term government funding deal include an extension of enhanced support for Affordable Care Act plans, while Trump and Republicans have said they will not negotiate until the government gets back to work. Extending the support would require $350 billion in federal spending over the next decade.

We want to hear from Americans who are about to lose Snap food assistance due to the shutdown, as well as from people whose health care may become unaffordable due to rising insurance premiums. Have you received any notices or paperwork that your insurance will change soon? Tell us.

Share your experience

Tell us how you might be affected by the impending loss of sudden food aid due to the US government shutdown, as well as rising health insurance costs unless support is extended.

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