Feds OK CA Plan to Pre-Enroll Incarcerated People in Medi-Cal

Vanessa Barrington March 14, 2023

Public News Service: Feds OK CA Plan to Pre-Enroll Incarcerated People in Medi-Cal (March 14, 2023)

California will soon become the first state in the nation to offer health insurance to income-eligible individuals who are incarcerated – starting 90 days prior to their release. The feds just agreed to match funds spent on Medi-Cal or CHIP for people leaving jail, prison or juvenile correctional facilities.

Hagar Dickman, senior attorney at the nonprofit Justice in Aging, said it is in everyone’s interest to set justice-involved people up for success.

“The idea is to ensure that people are connected with services prior to their release, and individuals with mental-health needs and substance-abuse disorder also can have their medication given to them prior to the release,” Dickman said.

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