Clifton Park, NY (News10) -- More than 1.6 million New Yorkers rely on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for their health coverage. With the possibility of the health subsidies expiring, they're about to see their insurance premiums increase.

This is particularly concerning for those with serious medical diagnoses, like cancer.

"There's copays there's maybe a change to your diet, maybe there's transportation to your appointments...it really can be quite burdensome, quite taxing, and stressful," said Rachel Rupright.

Rupright runs the NYOH Community Cancer Foundation, a local nonprofit affiliated with NY Oncology Hematology that provides qualifying patients with financial assistance. She said they've seen a significant increase in applications in the last few months.

"Cancer, it doesn't know holidays, it doesn't know when the government is shut down, it doesn't know when benefits change. But the need still continues with all of these changes," she said.

Current federal health subsidies are set to expire on January 1. If the health subsidies go away, costs will more than double what subsidized enrollees currently pay for premiums, according to an analysis by the health care research nonprofit KFF.

Rupright says those potential changes would put needy patients in a tough position.

"If you're spending all of your household finances to pay for your treatment, then you have to make this decision whether I pay for my cancer treatment, or do I pay for gas or groceries or pay for these bills that I have to stay warm in my house and the heat on and the electric bill paid," she said.

That's where groups like the Community Cancer Foundation come in - able to help cover those additional costs for cancer patients who have been diagnosed in the past six months and live in the Capital District.

Those interested in helping patients pay for their expenses can learn more at Ways to Give - NYOH Community Cancer Foundation.