The Role of Language in Health Care Access and Utilization for Insured Hispanic Adults
| Appendix Table A: Demographic Characteristics, Health Needs, and Health Coverage Among Nonelderly Insured Hispanic Adults by Language | ||
| English | Spanish | |
| Income | ||
| ≤138% FPL | 29% | 56%* |
| 138% – 400% FPL | 45% | 42% |
| >400% FPL | 26% | — |
| Work Status | ||
| Worker in the Family | 77% | 73% |
| Full Time Worker in the Family | 68% | 64% |
| Part Time Worker in the Family | 9% | 9% |
| No Worker in the Family | 23% | 27% |
| Gender | ||
| Female | 53% | 60% |
| Male | 47% | 40% |
| Age | ||
| 19 – 25 | 25% | — |
| 26 – 34 | 20% | 17% |
| 35 – 44 | 25% | 35%* |
| 45 – 64 | 30% | 40%* |
| Family Status | ||
| Married with Dependent Children | 32% | 34% |
| Married without Dependent Children | 17% | 16% |
| Not Married with Dependent Children | 17% | 19% |
| Not Married without Dependent Children | 33% | 31% |
| Health Needs | ||
| Has Ongoing Health Condition | 30% | 40%* |
| Taking Prescription Drugs | 39% | 43% |
| Type of Health Coverage | ||
| Private | 72% | 57%* |
| Medicaid | 17% | 29%* |
| Other | 11% | 15% |
| NOTE: English group includes Hispanics who completed the survey in English; Spanish group includes Hispanics who completed the survey in Spanish and indicated that they do not speak English well.
* Indicates statistically significant difference from English-speakers at p<0.05 level. SOURCE: 2014 Kaiser Survey of Low-Income Americans and the ACA. |
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| Appendix Table B: Experiences with and Understanding of Health Plans Among Nonelderly Insured Hispanic Adults by Language | ||
| English | Spanish | |
| Choosing a Health Plan | ||
| Somewhat/Very Difficult to Compare Services | 24% | 20% |
| Somewhat/Very Difficult to Compare Costs | 20% | 28% |
| Somewhat/Very Difficult to Compare Providers | 22% | 13%* |
| Any Problem | 36% | 37% |
| Reasons for Choosing Health Plan | ||
| Low Costs | 24% | 30% |
| Provider Selection | 24% | 22% |
| Benefits Covered | 31% | 19%* |
| Family or Friends Recommended | — | — |
| Other Family Also Covered | 7% | — |
| Rating Health Plans | ||
| Excellent/Good Rating | 89% | 77%* |
| Not so good/Poor | 9% | 19%* |
| Understanding Health Plans | ||
| Understood Services Very/Somewhat Well | 80% | 54%* |
| Understood Out of Pocket Costs Very/Somewhat Well | 83% | 59%* |
| Gaps In Plan | ||
| Needs Services Not Covered | 16% | 27%* |
| Problems with Health Plan | ||
| Plan Did Not Pay for Services Thought Covered | 19% | 28%* |
| Plan Did Not Pay because Had Not Met Deductible | 26% | 19% |
| Out of Pocket Costs Higher than Expected | 25% | 22% |
| Difficulty Getting Question Answered | 14% | 17% |
| Difficulty Renewing Coverage | 8% | 15% |
| NOTE: English group includes Hispanics who completed the survey in English; Spanish group includes Hispanics who completed the survey in Spanish and indicated that they do not speak English well.
* Indicates statistically significant difference from English-speakers at p<0.05 level. SOURCE: 2014 Kaiser Survey of Low-Income Americans and the ACA. |
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| Appendix Table C: Access to Care, Utilization of Care, and Communication with Health Care Providers Among Nonelderly Insured Hispanic Nonelderly Adults by Language | ||
| English | Spanish | |
| Usual Source of Care (USOC) | ||
| Has a USOC that is not the Emergency Department | 75% | 72% |
| USOC is a: | ||
| Clinic | 27% | 62%* |
| Doctor’s Office | 59% | 31%* |
| Some Other Place | 14% | 7%* |
| Reasons for Choosing USOC: | ||
| Convenient | 38% | 38% |
| Only Place Available | 6% | 11% |
| Preferred Doctor’s Practice | 34% | 22%* |
| Good Reputation | 14% | 18% |
| Other (Affordable, Don’t Know, and Refused) | 8% | 11% |
| Has Regular Doctor at USOC | 64% | 62% |
| Utilization of Care | ||
| Postponed or Went Without Care | 29% | 34% |
| Never Ended Up Getting Needed Care | 16% | 10% |
| Used any Medical Services | 75% | 79% |
| Had Checkup or Preventive Care Visit | 57% | 59% |
| Visited Doctor’s Office or Clinic for a Specific Health Problem | 54% | 45% |
| Communication with Health Care Providers | ||
| Always/Most of the Time Got All of the Information Wanted From Doctor | 87% | 82% |
| Always/Most of the Time Felt Encouraged to Ask Questions | 82% | 82% |
| Always/Most of the Time Understood Test Results | 84% | 92%* |
| Always/Most of the Time Understood How to Take Prescribed Medication | 90% | 88% |
| NOTE: English group includes Hispanics who completed the survey in English; Spanish group includes Hispanics who completed the survey in Spanish and indicated that they do not speak English well.
* Indicates statistically significant difference from English-speakers at p<0.05 level. SOURCE: 2014 Kaiser Survey of Low-Income Americans and the ACA. |
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| Appendix Table D: Affordability of Health Care Costs and Financial Security Among Nonelderly Insured Hispanic Adults by Language | ||
| English | Spanish | |
| Affordability of Health Care Costs | ||
| Confident can Afford Usual Medical Costs | 80% | 39%* |
| Not Confident can Afford Usual Medical Costs | 19% | 60%* |
| Confident can Afford Major Medical Costs | 60% | 20%* |
| Not Confident can Afford Major Medical Costs | 38% | 79% |
| Worry Over Health Care Costs has Major Effect on Job, Family, or Sleep | 9% | 34%* |
| Paying Premium Very/Somewhat Difficult (Among those Paying a Premium) | 26 | 48%* |
| Did Not Have Premium | 35% | 52%* |
| Medical Bill Outcomes | ||
| Has Outstanding Medical Bills | 18% | 17% |
| Any Problem Paying Medical Bills | 11% | 17% |
| Problem with Medical Bills Led to Using Up Savings | 6% | 9% |
| Problem with Medical Bills Led to Difficulty Paying for Basic Necessities | 5% | 8% |
| Problem with Medical Bills Led Borrowing Money | 3% | — |
| Problem with Medical Bills Led to Being Sent to Collections | 5% | — |
| Medical Bills Caused Financial Strain | 8% | 15% |
| Financial Security | ||
| Financially Insecure | 24% | 43% * |
| Somewhat/Very Difficult to Pay for Necessities | 31% | 62% * |
| Somewhat/Very Difficult to Save Money | 55% | 76% * |
| Somewhat/Very Difficult to Pay off Debt | 43% | 59% * |
| NOTE: English group includes Hispanics who completed the survey in English; Spanish group includes Hispanics who completed the survey in Spanish and indicated that they do not speak English well.
* Indicates statistically significant difference from English-speakers at p<0.05 level. SOURCE: 2014 Kaiser Survey of Low-Income Americans and the ACA. |
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