Language Access in Health Care

Limited-English-proficient individuals, who do not speak English well enough to communicate effectively in a health setting, have a right to free interpretation and translation services at hospitals, community health centers, clinics, and Medicaid and other public benefits offices. 

Title VI of the U.S. Civil Rights Act guarantees meaningful access to all individuals seeking services from any federally-funded entity, including hospitals, clinics, and public health insurance offices, like HRA and local districts of social service – regardless of the language the individual speaks, the individual’s religion, dress, or country of origin.

In practice, this means that hospitals, community health centers, clinics, and government agencies like Medicaid must provide free interpretation and translation services to any limited-English-proficient individual seeking services.  Health care providers and Medicaid workers are also prohibited from discriminating against individuals based on their accent, the way they look, or what they are wearing.

The New York Immigration Coalition coordinates and supports advocacy campaigns to improve limited-English-proficient individuals’ access to health care and health insurance.  Please contact the NYIC to get involved, and let us know if you or someone you know has experienced difficulty or delay in accessing health services because of a language barrier.