Proponents of the Affordable Care Act say it really is available to everyone

When the Obama administration rolled out their national healthcare plan they probably didn't know large numbers of inmates could be signing up.

Jails, though, feel it's a win-win.  Not only does it allow them to save money on health care costs, they're hoping it will cut recidivism rates.

Statistics show that a large percentage of people who are sentenced to serve time wind up back behind bars, and many of those crimes relate to things like mental health issues, drug abuse and in some cases, people who get arrested for the sole reason of having access to health care.

Many reoffenders haven't had medical insurance, jail officials say, and they're being proactive in their attempt to change that.

Take a county jail in Wisconsin, for example, who has reportedly hired someone whose job is to prepare inmates for re-entry into society.  This person will do more than help a soon-to-be-released detainee find work and housing- they'll also help them sign up for Obamacare.

If inmates with mental illness or drug addiction problems have access to care, this will be a huge step toward a path to recovery.  It could also help keep them out of jail, which could help reduce inmate overcrowding.

Not only will this have a positive impact on crime rates, keeping people out of jail could potentially save taxpayers millions of dollars in the long run.

Jails say the program will save the millions

In years past, Medicaid programs were only available for minor children of poverty-level adults.  Now, this program has been expanded to include single, poverty-level adults who do not have children.

Although the program doesn't contribute money toward standard inmate care, it will pick up the tab if an offender needs to be hospitalized for more than one full day.

What's more, is that inmates who receive Medicaid coverage while behind bars will be eligible for continued coverage once they're released.

One news outlet reportedly said this particular change is opening a lot of doors.

Sources say that jails within six states are participating in the program although more are expected to follow suit.