LANGUAGE
It is clear that Hispanics are particularly at risk for lacking access to medical care or treatment. In addition, Hispanics who have limited English proficiency are especially vulnerable to the challenges of accessing medical care and receiving quality health care.

• Even when insured, primarily Spanish-speaking Hispanics have a harder time accessing care than do primarily English-speaking Hispanics, non-Hispanic Whites, and non-Hispanic Blacks.
• Hispanics who have limited English proficiency have greater difficulties communicating problems with their doctors. In fact, 25% of Hispanics with limited English proficiency tend to have problems communicating with or understanding their doctors.
• Language ability also prevents many Spanish-speaking Hispanics from understanding both instructions for prescription medicine and written information from a doctor’s office. More than half of all Hispanics, insured or uninsured, report having difficulty comprehending instructions for prescription medication and health educational material provided by a doctor or health provider.
• Less than half of Spanish-speaking Hispanics are provided with interpretation services. Lack of culturally sensitive services further enhances the barriers that exist to accessing and navigating successfully through the health care system.

Communication Problems

• When visiting a doctor, Spanish-speaking Hispanics reported more difficulties interacting with their doctor than English-speaking Hispanics. Nearly 50% of Spanish-speaking Hispanics had problems communicating with their physician.
• 1 out of 4 Spanish-speaking Hispanics reported difficulties in asking their doctor questions.
  
  (Source: The Commonwealth Fund)

Written Information (Uninsured Adults)

• More than 80% of non-Hispanic Whites report no problems understanding prescription medicine instructions and nearly 60% report no problems understanding information from a doctor’s office.
• Although both Spanish-speaking and English-speaking Hispanics report difficulties in understanding prescription medicine instructions and material from a doctor’s office, Spanish-speaking Hispanics are at higher disadvantage. Close to 50% of Spanish-speaking Hispanics report problems understanding instructions for prescription medicine and more than 50% had trouble understanding information from a doctor’s office.
  
  (Source: The Commonwealth Fund)