text: can some one who is incarcerated qualify for medicaid? my son is in jail, i think he is bi-polar and needs to be evaluated but has no medical coverage,can he still get the help he needs? in principle the prison authorities are responsible for medical and dental care of incarcerated persons. in fact, most (at least most non-federal) institutions give abysmal care.  it is well known that states abolished their mental hospitals and now use their prisons instead to warehouse them. it's a modern tragedy, taking us back to bedlam days.  there's quite a bit online about the specific issue your question asks. see, for example http://www.cms.hhs.gov/certificationandcomplianc/14_psychhospitals.asp and do a google search of your own.