“If he’s eligible for Medicaid, he can get it anytime. For ACA plans, he has to be within a time period of some transition in life.”
Agree with Cardinal Fang that Medicaid would be the way to go if in an expansion state. And if so, his income would be too low to go ACA, which should be available otherwise since getting kicked off of a family plan is a “change in life” event.
I must say, though, that I have an issue with programs like AmeriCorps and similar programs that pay so poorly and don’t provide benefits and encourage their workers to sign up for Medicaid, SNAP, and other government support to survive. They should pay a living wage and benefits.