While the future of the Affordable Care Act, frequently referred to as Obamacare is uncertain, the number of New Yorkers who have signed up through the state has risen this year.
More than 3.6 million people signed up for health insurance through the New York Marketplace during the enrollment period, an increase of over 800,000 from 2016.
Additional numbers released by the NY State of Health on February 3, 2017, show that total marketplace enrollment increased in every county of the state. According to their numbers, the counties with the highest increases were: Rockland (68.5%), Orange (59.7%), Madison (48.3%), Cortland (48.1%), Fulton (46.7%), Oneida (46.6%), Sullivan (45.4%), Herkimer (43.8%), Montgomery (43.5%), Oswego (43.0%) and Seneca (43.0%). Six counties saw an increase of more than 40,000 people: Queens (136,430), Kings (130,798), Bronx (71,397), Suffolk (50,240), Nassau (42,266) and Westchester (42,119).
Find numbers for your county here.
The Essential Plan showed the highest percentage increase in enrollment in every county. The Essential Plan covers adults who are not eligible for Medicaid and have incomes up to 200 percent of federal poverty level.
Elected representatives from across the country will be debating the merits and deficits of the Affordable Care Act this year. President Trump has vowed that he will replace it with a better plan.