Medicare open enrollment kicked off on Oct. 15, with one notable difference for beneficiaries who are considering updating their health insurance plans — the federal government has been shut down since Oct. 1.

Updates related to Medicare open enrollment — which runs through Dec. 7 — will continue during the government shutdown, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Because the federal shutdown may affect timely access to information, Philip Moeller, author of "Get What's Yours for Medicare: Maximize Your Coverage, Minimize Your Costs," suggests holding off on finalizing coverage decisions for 2026 until the government reopens.

"I'm advising people pretty strongly to wait to make their decision about next year's coverage," Moeller said.

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