Thousands in Ulster County brace for loss of low-cost health coverage

Thousands in Ulster County brace for loss of low-cost health coverage

Thousands of Ulster County residents could lose their health insurance as New York State prepares to roll back the Essential Plan, which helps low-income adults who don’t qualify for Medicaid to get low-cost coverage. The plan is being scaled back after a major cut in federal funding. Starting in 2026, New York plans to reduce eligibility from 250% to 200% of the federal poverty level, which could remove an estimated 450,000 people statewide fro…