Results: Low income men qualify for Medi-cal/Medicaid for first time

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) low income, specifically those being released from being incarcerated, have access to healthcare. Recent studies show that if continuous medical care, including pharmaceuticals is continuous recidivism will be reduced. I find it outrageous that the prison and jail systems would treat inmates, then upon their release they have no way to continue treatment. Bottom line it introduces disease back into the community and puts their life at risk. How do you feel about this?

Here are the statistics from one study: A 2007 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that in the two weeks after release the mortality rate among former prisoners was 13 times higher than in the general public, with the leading cause of death in this period being drug overdose. Do you think the numbers would more or less be the same around the country?

Federal law prohibits those serving time from receiving Medicaid, so when someone enters prison or jail they lose their benefits but would receive treatment from the corrections system. But Barry says some states and counties have made it possible to simply suspend rather than terminate benefits while serving time. This means that upon release, Medicaid is automatically reinstated. Otherwise, it could take months before a new enrollment would go into effect. What do think the best way to go is, considering the health of the inmates and the cost of healthcare as a burden on society?

Upon being incarcerated, IDs are produced if not present. Not having proper ID, when processed in jail, is one of the barriers to having access to healthcare and coverage. Should healthcare enrollment be included when IDs are processed in jail?

Do you know of anyone who has been released from jail/prison, who lost their coverage, and returned to jail because of something illegal that was linked to their health status and lack of healthcare coverage and access?