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HMO Services in Other Languages are services available from your HMO if you or a family member use American Sign Language or do not speak English. These services may assist you with obtaining medical services.
HMOs must provide interpreter services and some translated written materials to their members who do not speak or understand English well or who use American Sign Language. Services may be different depending on whether you have Commercial coverage through your employer or are on Medi-Cal, Healthy Families or Medicare.
Knowing about the services your HMO offers in non-English languages may assist you in communicating better with your doctor or health plan representative. Improved communication can result in getting the medical services you need to achieve better health.
The information found here was voluntarily reported to the Office of the Patient Advocate (OPA) by some California HMOs in Spring 2003. Participating HMOs responded to a survey that was developed by the OPA with input from the OPA's Cultural and Linguistic Services Workgroup. The most useful information from the surveys is summarized in the "HMO Services in Other Languages" section of this website.
The information presented here is not a complete description of services available and does not compare how well HMOs do in providing these services to members. If you are interested in learning more about an HMO's interpreter or translation services, contact the HMO directly. You can find the telephone number and website address for each HMO on the Contact an HMO page or by clicking on HMO names wherever they appear.
If you would like more information about these data or if you have a problem seeking language assistance, please contact the Office of the Patient Advocate at 1-866-466-8900.
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