At least half of the inmates in America’s prisons and jails have some form of mental illness. Sixty-five percent have an substance abuse addiction. Behind bars, they may be able to get into rehab or start taking needed medication for the first time in their life.
But leaving prison can mean leaving behind this crucial health care coverage — something that can ultimately determine former inmates’ ability to successfully reenter the outside world.
At the end of April, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) tried to shine a light on this issue by releasing slightly updated Medicaid eligibility guidelines for former prisoners. In hopes of preventing dangerous gaps in medical coverage, the department urged state prisons to help inmates sign up for Medicaid prior to their release, and announced that those finishing their sentences in a halfway house are now eligible for Medicaid coverage.
“It is important to understand the critical role access to health care plays in successful returns to the community for so many Americans trying to change their lives,” said Richard Frank, HHS Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, in a press release paired with April’s announcement. The guidelines, he added, will help reduce the risk of former prisoner being “re-incarcerated or hurt.”
For HHS, a quick look at the numbers shows just how many inmates leave prison unprepared. More than 600,000 people are released from jails and prison each year — but a recent study found only 112,525 inmates were signed up for health care when they left prison.