Do Inmates Get Free Health Care

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Do inmates get free health care? Whether we like it or not the courts have ruled that while inmates are incarcerated they have a constitutional right to basic medical care. “When the inmate arrives at the jail, the goal is to keep the inmate as healthy as possible, and attempt to keep them from deteriorating medically during their stay. Significant awards from lawsuits can result at any deliberate indifference by the Sheriff or jail staff on medical issues.” (Elkhart County Sheriff, 2011)
“You're not considered incarcerated if you're in jail or prison pending dispositions of charges— in other words, being held but not convicted of a crime.” (Incarcerated people, 2012)
While in jail inmates use their electronic kiosks in their area to “email” …show more content…

(Health Coverage, 2015)
I am partially against inmates receiving health care because everyone should be entitled to health care if needed. I do not agree that the country should have to pay for it. If you compare an incarcerated person to a geriatric patient in a nursing home, incarcerated people have it better off.
“Here is some food for thought…We should place the elderly in prisons. They will get a shower a day, video surveillance in case of problems, three meals a day, access to a library, computer, TV, gym, doctor on-site, free medication if needed.” (Elderly vs Jail, 2012)
“Put criminals in nursing homes. They have cold meals, lights off at 7pm, two showers a week, live in a smaller room and pay rent at $4,000 a month!!! It’s pretty sad that we treat prisoners better than the elderly.” (Elderly vs Jail, 2012)
I found the article above and it put my thought process to ease. I feel as if I am right in my rationalization about health care and the government. In 2012, in the state of New York their cost of housing a prisoner was almost $60,000; ($59,237). The average median household income was $50,000. The state of New York was paying $10,000 more to house one inmate than the average American family grosses with two people working. (Prisoners,

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