At this time in your life, Health Care coverage either seems like a luxury you can't afford, or it's not your priority. It should be. People released from incarceration are more likely to need continuing health care than others, and the absence of proper health care can affect your job performance, personal life, mental health, and more. There are options available at either low cost or no cost. The ACA (Obamacare) Marketplace and Medicaid, are open to you. One myth floating around is that felons are disqualified from Medicaid Coverage; this is not the case. Incarceration or a felony does not automatically disqualify you for either coverage
Health coverage for incarcerated people If you’re incarcerated, some special rules apply to your health care options. Incarceration and the Marketplace For purposes of the Marketplace, “incarcerated” means serving a term in prison or jail.
Incarceration doesn’t mean living at home or in a residential facility under supervision of the criminal justice system, or living there voluntarily. In other words, incarceration doesn’t include being on probation, parole, or home confinement.
You’re not considered incarcerated if you’re in jail or prison pending disposition of charges—in other words, being held but not convicted of a crime.
If you’re incarcerated, you can’t use the Marketplace to buy a private insurance plan. But after you’re released you can.
The Marketplace after release from incarceration When you apply for health coverage after being released from incarceration, you may qualify for lower costs on monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs. This will depend on your household size and income during the year you’re seeking coverage. After you’re released, you have a 60-day Special Enrollment Period to sign up for private health coverage. During this time, you can enroll in private health insurance even if it’s outside the Marketplace Open Enrollment Period. After this 60-day Special Enrollment Period, you can’t buy private health insurance until the next Marketplace Open Enrollment Period (unless you qualify for another Special Enrollment Period).
If you’re incarcerated pending disposition of charges If you’re in jail or prison but haven’t been convicted of a crime, you can create an account or log in to use the Marketplace to buy a private health insurance plan. This assumes you are otherwise eligible to get coverage through the Marketplace.
Incarceration and Medicaid If you’re incarcerated, you can use the Marketplace to apply for Medicaid coverage in your state. Medicaid won’t pay for your medical care while you’re in prison or jail. But if you enroll in Medicaid while you’re incarcerated you may be able to get needed care more quickly after you’re released. There are 3 ways to apply for Medicaid:
Online, at either HealthCare.gov or your state’s Marketplace website.
State Medicaid policies and incarceration A number of state Medicaid policies may influence your decision to apply for Medicaid while in jail or prison. These include:
Whether your state has decided to expand Medicaid coverage to all adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level
Whether incarcerated people can stay enrolled while in prison or jail. Remember that enrolling in Medicaid while incarcerated doesn’t allow Medicaid to pay the cost of your care while in prison or jail. But it may help you get needed care more quickly after you’re released.
Do You Have Children That Need Health Care Coverage? Millions of children and teens qualify for free or low-cost health and dental coverage through Medicaid & the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). You may visit the website to find out more, or call them for more information. The link and phone number is below
Helpful Links and Phone Numbers:
Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace: https://www.healthcare.gov/ 1-800-318-2596 Medicaid: https://www.medicaid.gov/ 877-267-2323 Children Coverage: https://www.insurekidsnow.gov/ 877-543-7669