Big changes are coming to health insurance in New York State, and Saratoga County is likely to be affected. Starting next July, a significant tax law change will reduce Medicaid coverage for many New Yorkers earning between 200% and 250% of the poverty level. This means about 450,000 New Yorkers statewide could lose coverage.
While this impacts everyone, the situation is particularly challenging for the North Country, including our own Saratoga County. This region, made up of 10 rural counties and the Adirondacks, relies heavily on Medicaid, with about 28% of its residents currently enrolled – that’s roughly 170,000 people. Sadly, nearly 47,000 North Country residents are projected to lose their insurance in the coming years.
Concerns are growing about the impact on vulnerable groups like children, mothers, pregnant women, the elderly, and even local businesses and farmers. Fortunately, local experts are speaking out. Dr. Christopher Hoy and Dr. John Rugge, who recently discussed these cuts on local television, are among those concerned and have proposed ways to address this complex issue.