A health insurance quote can be an expensive proposition no matter what your circumstance or financial situation. With things like annual yearly maximums, copayments and a network of providers that may or may not be covered, not only obtaining but using health insurance can be a difficult prospect. In addition to the standard agreements made when a health care policy is signed - most importantly that the policy can be canceled if the insured commits fraud - often comes the stipulation that if the insured is convicted of a crime and goes to jail, their health insurance may be suspended or canceled. Not only that, but jail can affect quote options once the individual has been released as well.

The first problem faced by someone headed for a stretch of jail time is that their current insurance provider will likely drop their policy. The American penal system does provide free medical care for its prisoners, but often that care is slow in coming and is not of the highest quality. However, a private insurance provider is not able to either come to the prison or get the insured out to see a doctor, so in addition to the criminal element, there are practical and administrative elements that must be considered as well. While an insurance company should not be able to continue to charge premiums on a policy that has been canceled, it is worthwhile to make sure that if a policy is canceled the premiums are also stopped along with the coverage.

The second problem that an individual who has served time in jail will face when they leave the penitentiary system is finding a new health insurance quote. Jail can affect quotes provided by health insurance providers for a number of reasons. The first is owing to the level of medical care offered in a prison - or the lack thereof - and the long-term effects that their incarceration may have on the health. As well, it is possible that the prison cleanliness and hygiene may have left the potential insured with a disease or infection that will be looked upon as a pre-existing condition and may cause and increase in rates. It is also possible that an insurance company will increase the premium rates offered to ex-prison inmates because of their history of criminal activity. It is worth checking on if this is permissible in your local state, however, as some states do have laws prohibiting companies from using personal history information to reject or deny coverage, or to set rates.

While it can be difficult for prison inmates to find health insurance coverage, options still exist to keep them healthy.