News  MPS’ Pretrial Services Division hosts statewide MassHealth & Health Connector enrollment events

The Pretrial Services Division of the Massachusetts Probation Service is hosting six statewide MassHealth and Health Connector Enrollment Fairs for probationers and court involved individuals lacking health insurance.

The first event kicked off in Greenfield at the Greenfield Court Complex on November 1st. Five more enrollment fairs will be held through January 2025 at courts and Community Justice Support Centers in Newburyport, Boston, Worcester, Dartmouth, and Barnstable. View schedule.

Attendees may enroll in MassHealth or Mass Health Connector, and change, renew or check their health insurance status. Transportation to the site is available upon request. Scan QR code on flyer for information.

"The lack of health insurance is a major barrier for probationers, the court-involved, and those returning to the community after incarceration. The Probation Service works diligently to provide access to essential services for our clients such as health insurance, housing as well as educational and job training at our statewide 18 Community Justice Support Centers,” said Dr. Carmen Gomez, Deputy Commissioner of Pretrial Services.

Historically, uninsured rates among formerly incarcerated individuals are relatively high, according to national studies.

According to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 50 percent of state prisoners report being uninsured at the time of their arrest, and estimates conducted before the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) suggest that uninsurance rates ranged from 40% to 90% among formerly incarcerated individuals, This data was cited in the study, “Previous Incarceration, Health Insurance, and the Affordable Care Act in the U.S."