A sign points the way during an Affordable Care Act sign-up event at Westside Family Healthcare's location in the Fox Run Shopping Center in Bear, Delaware, in 2014.
Ben Rawlings high fives his daughter Madison after playing a game during the summer kickoff for WIC, the federal supplemental nutrition program, in Wichita Falls, Kansas, Friday, May 30, 2025.
Marysville LEADS Head Start Assistant Teacher, Fernanda Duran, helps Harmony Scott with a puzzle designed to help her count during the end of class, Oct 7, 2025.
Head Start programs like the Farmington Children's Center, seen on April 29, 2025, could be in jeopardy if the government shutdown continues into November.

As the ongoing government shutdown enters its final week of the month, Nov. 1 is a key date to watch if a stalemate between lawmakers persists.

Aside from the existing setbacks caused by the shutdown − many essential government workers going without pay, and some agencies effectively being closed − Nov. 1 will be pivotal for several federal programs.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Head Start are on the brink of running out of funding if the lapse continues.

Nov. 1 is also a pivotal day for Obamacare, formally known as the Affordable Care Act. Health care policy remains a key shutdown sticking point for Democrats, who are pushing to reverse Republican cuts to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. Republicans have argued that the issues can be debated after the shutdown is over.

Here's what to know with Nov. 1 fast approaching.

Open enrollment begins on Nov. 1

Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) begins on Nov. 1, meaning millions of Americans will start shopping for their 2026 health coverage plans on that day.

As it stands, ACA subsidies, which help lower insurance premiums, are set to expire on Dec. 31.

ACA subsidies have been a key impasse for Democrats pushing to extend the credits now. Republicans are not budging on the change, saying it can be discussed after Congress reopens and before the Dec. 31 expiration.

However, if the subsidies are not extended by the time open enrollment begins, healthcare.gov consumers could encounter significantly higher premiums when they start searching for their health care plans.

According to the research organization KFF, premiums are expected to double for millions of Americans in 2026 if the subsidies are not renewed.

SNAP funds won't go out to families if shutdown goes into November

SNAP, sometimes known as food stamps, is a federal program that provides low-income families with monthly benefits to afford healthy food. Funds for the program are allocated monthly, so October benefits went out as usual despite the government shutdown.

However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the SNAP program, said earlier this month that there will not be enough funding to pay all benefits for November if the shutdown continues.

"If the current lapse in appropriations continues, there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million individuals across the Nation," the USDA said in a letter to state agencies dated Oct. 10, which was signed by SNAP development director Sasha Gersten-Paal.

WIC benefits could be exhausted by early November

WIC is a federal nutrition program that provides food, education and counseling to at-risk children under 5 years old, as well as pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding individuals.

While the National WIC Association (NWA) warned that the program would run out of money without Congress passing a new budget, the White House announced earlier this month that a temporary infusion of funds would keep the program running.

However, the funding is only enough to sustain the program through Oct. 31, so people could lose access to their benefits beginning Nov. 1 if nothing changes, NWA warned this week.

"Without additional support, State WIC Agencies face another looming crisis. Several are set to run out of funds to pay for WIC benefits on November 1 and may need to start making contingency plans as early as next week," Georgia Machell, president and CEO of NWA, said in a statement on Oct. 21.

When contacted on Oct. 24, the White House referred USA TODAY to the Office of Management and Budget, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding whether it will issue more emergency funds for WIC.

Head Start programs for children in jeopardy come Nov. 1

Head Start, a federal program that provides early education support for low-income families, could face disruptions if the government is not reopened by Nov. 1, according to the National Head Start Association (NHSA).

If the shutdown continues, 134 Head Start centers across 41 states — which support about 59,000 children in total — will miss federal grant funding they would typically receive on Nov. 1, NHSA said.

Currently, six Head Start programs, serving about 6,500 children, are already operating without federal funding after missing grant dollars on Oct. 1, NHSA said.

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.

Contributing: Joey Garrison and Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Nov. 1 is a key date in the government shutdown. Impacts on SNAP, WIC, Obamacare.

Reporting by Melina Khan, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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