Screening process for Medicaid and SSI/SSDI eligibility

A process is established to screen people in the jail (and at any other points in the criminal justice system, as applicable) for Medicaid and Social Security Income (SSI)/Social Security Disability (SSDI) eligibility.

For more information on this intervention, see this resource:

• Critical Connections, page 13

Local Examples

Cook County, IL Cook County Jail

• Screening for Medicaid and SSI/SSDI eligibility is integrated into the intake process.
• The jail partners with a community-based organization that stations staff in the jail who screen people for Medicaid eligibility.
• People that do not already have health insurance but do meet basic qualifying criteria are offered assistance in submitting Medicaid applications.

For more information on this example, see these resources:

• Critical Connections, page 14
• Enrolling Offenders in Medicaid at Pretrial Jail Intake: A Case Study of Cook County, IL (NAPSA)
• Addressing Mental Illness and Medical Conditions in County Jails: Cook County, Ill.

Bernalillo County, NM Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC)

• Everyone who is detained longer than three days is screened for prior Medicaid coverage by MDC social services staff.
• MDC staff identify those covered by comparing the jail census to the state Medicaid database.
• Those who are not covered but may be eligible are supported in applying while at MDC.

For more information on this example, see this resource:

• Critical Connections, page 14