Coming Home? You May Qualify for Health Insurance Right Now.

I’m Christopher Horne, a licensed health insurance broker in Florida. This page isn’t a sales pitch — it’s the information I’d want my own family to have. You’ve got 60 days from your release date, and the clock starts the day you walk out. Let’s not waste it.

The 60-Day Window, Plain and Simple

Here’s how the rule works, straight from HealthCare.gov:

Miss the 60 days and the window closes — you’d have to wait for the next open enrollment (starting November 1 each year). That’s why this page exists: so the window doesn’t pass you by.

What You’ll Need

Gather these and the process goes fast. If you don’t have everything, don’t panic — text me and we’ll figure it out together:

What Coverage Can Actually Do for You

Health insurance after release isn’t just a card in your wallet. Under the Affordable Care Act, Marketplace plans must cover essential health benefits, including:

• Doctor visits and preventive care — checkups, screenings, vaccinations.
• Mental health and substance use treatment — counseling, therapy, and drug/alcohol treatment are covered like any other medical care. If recovery is part of your fresh start, coverage helps pay for it.
• Prescription drugs — including medications for ongoing conditions.
• Emergency and hospital care — so one bad day doesn’t become a lifetime of medical debt.

An Honest Note About Florida and Medicaid

I’m going to be straight with you because you deserve straight answers: Florida has not expanded Medicaid. That means if your income is very low and you’re not working yet, you may fall into what’s called the coverage gap — too little income for Marketplace tax credits, but not eligible for Florida Medicaid either. It’s a real problem and it’s not your fault.

Here’s what I can do about it: I’ll check every option with you — community health centers that charge on a sliding scale, county programs, and exactly what you’ll qualify for the moment your income changes. And in the states that did expand Medicaid (Arizona, Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio — four of the sixteen states where I’m licensed), low-income adults can often get Medicaid coverage directly. Wherever you land, I’ll tell you the truth about what’s available and help you get it.

Free Resources That Aren’t Me

You don’t need me for any of these. They’re free, and they exist for exactly this moment:

For Family Members

If someone you love is coming home soon, you can help right now: share this page with them, help them gather their release paperwork, and remind them the 60-day clock starts on release day. If they’re not ready to talk to anyone yet, that’s okay — the resources above don’t require talking to me at all. When they’re ready, I’m here.

A Note From Me

Coming home is hard enough without paperwork standing in your way. Your past doesn’t disqualify you from health care — the law literally built a door for this exact moment. Walk through it. And if you want someone to walk through it with you, text REENTRY. I answer my own phone.