Today marked the start of the open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as "Obamacare."

Consumers across New York logged onto the online health plan marketplace to compare plans and sign up for coverage.

The state says so many people visited the website this morning that the system temporarily crashed.

The health exchange offers multiple plans. There are four levels of care, and consumers determine what kind of coverage they need. How much consumers pay depends on the coverage chosen and how much money they make. Some consumers may be eligible for subsidies and tax credits, depending on income.

New York expects it will enroll 1.1 million uninsured users in plans over the next three years.