Elderly Prisoners and Medicare

Abstract

The healthcare costs of elderly inmates are a major concern for state governments. This paper (i) discusses the recent surge in the elderly inmate population; (ii) analyzes the eligibility of prisoners for Medicare coverage, including an exception that allows coverage under certain circumstances; (iii) describes how states can circumvent restrictions on Medicare coverage of the incarcerated by using the aforementioned exception; (iv) explains why, for policy reasons, it may be wiser to allow Medicare coverage for all elderly inmates; and (v) makes policy recommendations for the treatment of the healthcare needs of elderly inmates in the future.