Thread: Calif. Raises Cost of Med. Ins. to Cover Translation Needs

This probably was posted before as an article However, I could not find one in a search.

From "The ProEnglish Advocate"
Spring, 2009

California raises cost of medical insurance to cover translation needs

In January the State of California began implementing a new law that requires health insurance companies in the state to pay for interpreters and translations for non-English speaking patients at no charge.

With 43 percent of its population speaking a language other than English at home according to the Census, and paid translators earning as much as $180 an hour, the cost of the new law will be huge. That cost will be reflected in the higher premiums private insurers charge to provide health insurance.

ProEnglish board member and California physician Cliff Colwell said, “Throughout our nation’s history doctors have been committed to communicating clearly with their patients— that’s why family members, friends or members of one’s own language/ethnic group have traditionally been utilized to communicate with patients speaking little or no English. And U.S. medical institutions have widely adopted common sense approaches like hiring bilingual staff to help them cope with the problem.â€

In January the State of California began implementing a new law that requires health insurance companies in the state to pay for interpreters and translations for non-English speaking patients at no charge.



This is just insane.

Why is it that people with pre-existing conditions and health risk factors are charged a higher premium, and many times because of things like genetic disposition which the policy holder has absolutely no control over whatsoever.

But when it comes to someone who can't speak or understand English EVERYONE must pay higher premiums in order to accommodate that individual's need for the mandatory "free" interpreter?

That's just not right no matter how you look at it.

Someone who is in need of an interpreter should have to pay a higher premium all on their own in the very same way anyone else with a special circumstance is required to pay the higher premium.