‘Schumer Shutdown’ Jeopardizes Healthcare For Military Members, Families

As the government shutdown drags into its second week, health care providers serving military families are warning of dire consequences from the ongoing budget stalemate — consequences felt most sharply in San Antonio, known as “Military City USA.”

Doctors and clinics across the city say they have stopped receiving payments for treating active-duty service members, veterans, and their dependents under the Department of Defense’s TRICARE program, according to Breitbart News.

The funding freeze, triggered by Senate Democrats’ refusal to reopen the government without an extension of expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, has left civilian medical providers in financial limbo — and threatens to disrupt care for thousands of military families nationwide.

“This is exactly what happens when Washington puts politics before people,” one San Antonio physician told local media. “The families who sacrifice the most for this country are the ones paying the price.”

San Antonio’s Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) — the largest joint base in the U.S. — anchors a massive network of health providers serving tens of thousands of service members, retirees, and their dependents. The base includes Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base, Fort Sam Houston, and Camp Bullis, all of which rely heavily on TRICARE reimbursement to sustain medical services.

Now, many of those providers are reaching a breaking point.

Dr. Britt Sims, Executive Director of Integrated Behavior Solutions, told News4SA, “We can last a couple of weeks on what I have personally, but now, I’m done. I’m spent. If by some miracle, something happens, then I don’t know. We’ll keep fighting somehow.”

Another San Antonio provider, Dr. Gia Koehne, who owns the Blossom Center for Children, said her clinic — which serves children with autism — has been forced to halt operations.

“Because of all of this, everything is completely stalled and halted,” she said. “We have a lot of families that need services, and we just don’t have the capacity to be able to do that, because we’re not getting paid.”

The Defense Health Agency warned TRICARE members on October 1 that payments may be delayed until government funding is restored.

“During the current lapse in government appropriations, you may continue to get care or attend currently scheduled appointments with your civilian providers,” the agency said. “However, TRICARE may not be able to process or pay medical claims received on or after October 1, 2025, until funding is restored.”

Officials acknowledged the disruption and promised to “resume full operation as quickly as possible once appropriations are enacted.”

Meanwhile, President Donald J. Trump has taken decisive steps to protect those serving under his command. Over the weekend, the Trump administration announced that it will redirect unused research and development funds to ensure that military personnel continue receiving their pay during the shutdown.

Critics say that while President Trump is finding creative ways to shield America’s troops from the fallout, Senate Democrats remain unwilling to set aside partisan demands for more Obamacare spending.

For the families and doctors of San Antonio — and for countless others across the nation — the message from Washington is clear: the political gamesmanship must end before more military families are forced to suffer.