Connecticut Enrolls Inmates in Medicare, Medicaid
State gains federal approval to sign incarcerated people up for coverage two months before their release.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Criminal Justice
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Should government help people leaving prison enroll in Medicare and Medicaid before release?
Connecticut has secured federal approval to enroll incarcerated individuals in Medicare and Medicaid two months before release, a step traditionally barred. The Department of Correction will help people apply and explain how the programs work.
Why it matters
Lack of healthcare access, including substance use treatment, has been a barrier to a fresh start after release, state officials said. The initiative aims to keep people connected to medical, mental health and addiction care and reduce returns to correctional facilities.
Connecticut's Department of Correction will begin working with incarcerated people two months before release to apply for Medicare and Medicaid. The extraction does not specify how many people have been enrolled so far or when the first applications will be filed.
The players
Connecticut Department of Correction
The state agency that runs Connecticut's correctional facilities and will assist incarcerated people with enrollment before release.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
The federal agency that administers Medicare and Medicaid and approved Connecticut's plan.
DeVaughn Ward
A former Connecticut correctional ombudsman who uncovered that hundreds of incarcerated people waited months or years for specialty care.
The details
Connecticut worked with the Department of Social Services, Governor Lamont's office and other state agencies to win approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The initiative also strengthens ties among correctional settings, state agencies, health and social service providers and community groups.
Timeline
Two months before release: Department of Correction begins enrolling individuals in Medicare and Medicaid.
November 6, 2026: Connecticut announces the Medicare and Medicaid deal.
Legal Context
Connecticut's approval departs from the long-standing federal rule that barred incarcerated people from enrolling in Medicaid and Medicare. The state is testing whether pre-release enrollment can reduce returns to custody by sustaining care after release.
Residents returning from Connecticut correctional facilities may gain access to Medicare and Medicaid coverage for medical, mental health and substance use treatment after release. The change could affect families and local providers who support people leaving custody.
The takeaway
Continuous health coverage at release can be a practical tool for reducing the chance that people return to custody. Readers following criminal justice policy can watch whether Connecticut reports enrollment and outcome data.
Further reading
For more on how states are handling release policy, see Criminal Justice coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CT Insider.
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Should government help people leaving prison enroll in Medicare and Medicaid before release?
