Enrollment and Access Barriers for People with Limited English Proficiency
This issue brief examines how limited English proficiency creates barriers to enrolling in and accessing Medicaid and CHIP, and how states provide language access services to address these challenges.
The report analyzes national data on people with limited English proficiency (LEP), documents disparities in health outcomes and access to care, and reviews federal requirements for language access in Medicaid and CHIP.
It presents findings from a 50-state review of translated applications, renewal forms, and multilingual taglines, showing wide variation in availability by state, and highlights state experiences and constraints in providing translations and interpretation services. The brief also discusses practical barriers such as staff capacity, funding limits, and long wait times for less common languages, alongside the role of community-based organizations and language lines in improving access.
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