By: Dr. Karen Mancera-Cuevas, Senior Director, Health Equity 

Hispanic Heritage Month provides an important moment to examine how the changing health care landscape has affected Hispanic and Latino patients. The current environment has created complex challenges related to access, navigation, and social support, which directly impact lived experience. By analyzing how each  these elements intersect, we can better identify opportunities to address barriers to care for this community.  

Access to Care
Latino patients face multiple challenges in accessing health care, many tied to changes to legislation concerning Medicaid. Proposals such as  Medicaid work requirements in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and the potential loss of coverage for Medicaid recipients disproportionately affect Latino patients. Latinos are overrepresented in industries that may not offer employer-sponsored health benefits, such as food service, construction, and domestic work. Without access to employer-provided insurance, many rely on Medicaid as their primary health coverage. However, despite being overrepresented in the low-income population, many eligible Latinos do not enroll in Medicaid due to concerns about immigration status, fear of the public charge rule, or lack of access to enrollment information. This results in significant barriers to accessing essential services provided by Medicaid, including preventive care, maternal health, and chronic disease management. 

Hispanics and Latino patients also face disproportionately high adverse health outcomes, with seniors being the most likely of any racial or ethnic group in the US to experience affordability challenges. The Inflation Reduction Act aims to reduce some of these barriers by lowering the out-of-pocket cost of health coverage and prescription drugs, a change that will especially benefit Latinos who face barriers to care due to unaffordable costs. Additionally, if health care coverage is obtained through employment and this status changes due to job loss, layoffs or reductions, alternate coverage options although available through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), may not be the first choice due to language barriers, lack of knowledge of ACA registration requirements or plain mistrust of the system creating further inequities. However, coverage gaps remain. When employment status changes due to job loss, layoffs, or reduced hours, alternate coverage through the ACA) is available but not always accessible. Language barriers, lack of knowledge about ACA enrollment, and mistrust of the system often prevent Hispanic and Latino patients from seeking this option, creating further inequities in access to care. 

Health Literacy & Navigation
With new guidelines come new documents, forms, and expectations that patients must understand to effectively navigate the system. For Latino patients, this can be especially challenging due cultural factors, language barriers, and socioeconomic disparities. Together, these issues create the likelihood of poorer health outcomes, often leading to prolonged and increased frequency of hospitalization. Limited health literacy may also discourage preventive health seeking behaviors in primary care settings, leading to more complicated conditions, greater care coordination needs, and higher costs. Systemic barriers —including limited English proficiency, lack of health care navigation resources, and fear of engaging with government systems — further reduce access the health care services available through Medicaid and out of pocket care. In addition, many Latinos face difficulties in finding providers who speak their language or understand their cultural needs.

Social Support
Social support is another area shaped by systemic barriers and immigration status. Families that may have relied on caregivers for support may now face instability and smaller support networks, and limited resources to pay for care.  Fear and mistrust may prevent some individuals from attending patient support groups or connecting with grassroots organizations. After hospitalization or medical procedures, discharge support can be especially limited, as families often have fewer resources to rely on, and hospitals themselves may be constrained by financial pressures. 

These recurring challenges highlight an uncertain future for Hispanic and Latino patients.  Addressing them will require coordinated investments in health care and behavioral health resources at the local, state, and national level —from primary care delivered through Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to specialty treatment at large hospital systems. Policy and legislative efforts, particularly those focused on statewide Medicaid programs, represent another avenue for patient advocates to prioritize funding for  preventive care and essential services.