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

By Desert Star Staff

California will soon become the first state in the nation to offer health insurance to income-eligible incarcerated individuals - starting 90 days before their release. The feds 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 before their release, and individuals with mental health needs and substance abuse disorder also can have their medication given to them before the release,” Dickman said.

Previously the feds would only reimburse the state’s

Medi-Cal expenses for people upon their release. In addition, the state passed a law last fall that suspended people’s Medi-Cal instead of terminating it while incarcerated. So now their status will be reactivated without them having to reapply.

This is not just a health initiative; it’s an equity initiative - since a disproportionate number of people of color face incarceration, Dickman said. And it puts people on firmer footing as they re-enter society.

“This is an important way to combat the significant effects of mental illness, mental health issues, and substance abuse in the jails, particularly in light of both high rates of homelessness and suicide and overdose as people are released,” she said.

The move is part of the larger project called Cal AIM.

This will modernize Medi-

Cal - and allow it to cover things like housing support since secure housing is considered a social determinant of health.

Disclosure: Justice in Aging contributes to our fund for reporting on Civil Rights, Health Issues, Senior Issues, and Social Justice.