A new report shows that more than 25% of Erie County residents - including 4 out of 10 children - are now covered by Medicaid. County Executive Mark Poloncarz said, that means that the Affordable Care Act is working.
"We know it's working because more people are actually getting covered than there was in the past."
And Poloncarz said, 71% of working-age adults in the County, who receive Medicaid, have some other form of income.
"In the end, looking at the income of the individuals who receive Medicaid - unlike what you often hear - the myth that nobody works, and they sit at home and they collect their Medicaid and their other services, that's not the case."
Despite the increase in enrollment, Poloncarz said, the county's Medicaid costs are projected to drop by more than $ 6.4 million. The report was issued by Erie County's Office of Medicaid Inspector General.