Military families are increasingly anxious as the government shutdown deepens. The health care system has indicated a potential reduction in its capacity to process and settle medical claims, and recent permanent change of station (PCS) orders are still on hold.
Although President Donald Trump has directed Army Secretary Pete Hegseth to ensure that service members receive their paychecks by October 15th, it’s still uncertain if they will get their paychecks on October 31st if the government does not reopen. USA Today reported.
Along with the uncertainty about pay, service members and their families face serious challenges, such as managing medical expenses and understanding their living arrangements as they prepare for PCS orders.
Just last week, the Army lifted the freeze on five-day PCS orders for most soldiers, though there remains “one major exception.” Stars and Stripes reported that many families felt “at a loss.”
Many soldiers and their families had already organized their belongings and arranged for the storage and transportation of items they couldn’t take with them when the command was halted.
“We realize these changes have created significant stress and we deeply regret it,” said Col. Rachel Sullivan, the commander of the U.S. Army Garrison in Hawaii, via social media. announcement.
PCS orders that are still on hold are those issued prior to October 1, when the shutdown began, which require long-term storage of belongings.
Long-term or “non-temporary” storage is typically necessary when military personnel are relocating from the continental U.S. to an overseas station, as explained by Sullivan.
Some families are concerned about their future moves, but the military health insurance program, Tricare, has also raised alarms, issuing a warning about the implications of the shutdown.
Tricare shared the following statement: “When the shutdown is active:
While government funding is currently stalled, you can still access treatment and attend scheduled appointments with private healthcare providers, although standard out-of-pocket expenses apply.
You can also fill prescriptions at military pharmacies, retail network pharmacies, and delivery services.
However, TRICARE may not be able to process or pay medical claims submitted after October 1, 2025, until funding is restored. The Defense Health Agency is coordinating with TRICARE contractors to inform healthcare providers about potential payment delays.
We acknowledge the worry and inconvenience this situation may cause and sincerely apologize for the confusion. We aim to restore full operations as soon as the budget is enacted.
Some healthcare providers who depend on Tricare payments for services rendered to military personnel and their families have started to feel the financial strain, according to Breitbart News.
In addition, a shutdown has led to the cancellation of extracurricular activities within the Department of Defense Educational Activities (DoDEA) starting October 1, affecting over 67,000 students in 161 schools worldwide. Thankfully, the situation was reversed less than a week later, as reported by Stars and Stripes.
“Our military cannot be shut down, yet Chuck Schumer and the Democratic Party have done just that,” Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson told Breitbart News in an exclusive statement. “While our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and security personnel continue to be deployed worldwide, they are playing politics to fund the medical costs of illegal immigrants. The Democrats are the ones behind this shutdown.”
