The authorities in the US have said that they are planning to enrol inmates in health care coverage that is available to them under the new Affordable Care Act.

The Affordable Care Act, which came into effect from 1 January, 2014, offers health coverage to the people in the US. Jail officials in San Francisco will enrol inmates in health care coverage and experts have said that former convicts with health coverage will be less likely to repeat offenses. The Department of Public Health said that the inmates with health insurance are likely to return to normal life.

Officials said that 90 percent of the inmates at County Jail will be eligible for health insurance under the country's new health care law. They said that inmates with health care coverage will access services such as addiction treatment and this will avoid incidents of criminal behaviour.

DPH Director Barbara Garcia said, "A reduction in criminal behavior and repeated incarcerations associated with chronic health conditions is expected."

The US government had set a goal of signing up 7 million people nationwide by March 31. Latest figures showed that 3.3 million Americans have now selected a plan under the new system, continuing an increase from nearly 2.2 million recorded earlier.