Last updated December 16, 2024
When to use:
Caller has questions about how incarceration impacts Medicare.
Important information:
Use this link for a general overview of incarcerated Medicare beneficiaries.
| Part A | Part B | Advantage Plan and Part D | |
| Have Medicare at time of incarceration | Keep. Disenroll if paying premium. | Keep. Disenroll and use SEP when released. If has Medicare and becomes incarcerated, the person will not be able to access or use their Medicare benefits. They will need to continue paying their monthly Medicare Part B premium. | *Disenroll |
| NTM during incarceration | Enroll, or delay if pay premium | SEP when released | Do not join |
| After release | SEP | SEP | **SEP starts as early as month before and lasts up to 2 months after release |
*When a person is incarcerated, they should disenroll from their stand-alone prescription drug plan (Medicare Part D) or Medicare Advantage Plan. This is because they are ineligible for these plans for the duration of their time in jail, prison, or otherwise in the custody of penal authorities. Use this link for more information about Medicare Part D and incarcerated beneficiaries.
**Before completing a Part D enrollment or if beneficiary cannot get medications, make sure to call SHIP to confirm that the incarceration status has an end date with Medicare. If not, contact CSC for further instructions.