Breaking the Cycle: Why I Started Reentry Care

Harley Blakeman, CEO of Reentry Care (2010)

When I was a homeless teenager, I did not think much about healthcare. Surviving day to day was my focus. At 18, I was sentenced to prison, where medical care was technically free but something you only received in dire situations. When I was released in 2012, I no longer had health insurance and no one took the time to help me understand my options. And the jobs I was able to get in restaurants and retail did not offer health insurance.

For years, I went without medical coverage, not because I did not want it, but because I did not understand that affordable or even free plans were available to people in my position. I had never navigated the enrollment process before and I did not know where to begin. I am not alone in this experience.

Every year, more than 600,000 people return home from prison in the United States, with over a million more being release from jails. Many, like me, have never had health insurance or lost it during incarceration. Without guidance, they are left to figure it out in a system that is often confusing, unwelcoming, and full of red tape. The result is untreated mental health conditions, unmanaged chronic illnesses, and preventable health crises that make rebuilding a life even harder.

That is why I started Reentry Care.

Our mission is simple: To help every person returning from jail or prison quickly access high-quality, affordable healthcare. To achieve this mission we provide free, one-on-one assistance to anyone impacted by the criminal legal system, helping them understand their options and navigate the enrollment process. We partner with correctional facilities, reentry programs, and nonprofits to reach people immediately release, removing confusion, cutting through bureaucracy, and getting people insured quickly.

Healthcare is not just about medicine. It is about stability. When someone has the coverage they need, they can focus on finding work, reconnecting with family, and staying on track. That stability reduces recidivism, strengthens communities, and saves taxpayer dollars in the long run.

I know firsthand how daunting life after incarceration can be. I also know that with the right support, people can rebuild their lives. At Reentry Care, we are proving every day that healthcare access is one of the most powerful reentry tools we have.

My hope is simple: that no one else has to spend years uninsured and unaware like I did.

If you need help enrolling in healthcare, visit www.ReentryCare.org.