An Overview of Healthcare Challenges for the Hispanic and Latinx Communities of the U.S.

Hispanic and Latinx patients can experience challenges with access to care in the U.S. and experience disparities. With a reported 65.2 million Hispanic people in the United States as of July 1, 2023, this unique and often underserved population is the country’s most significant racial or ethnic minority, making up 19.1 percent of the total population.

It is important to understand healthcare challenges and barriers with specific populations so healthcare professionals can give equal access to patients and improve care for all. Here is more on these important communities, their common experiences, and how clinicians can take steps to support them more.

Understanding Hispanic and Latinx Populations

The communities included in the Hispanic and Latinx population of the United States are made up of people with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. In some cases, data in the U.S. only refers to these overlapping groups as Hispanic and non-Hispanic, like the U.S. Census, although more inclusive identification changes are being made for the future.

Generally, the use of “Hispanic” is rooted in language and connection to Spain, whereas “Latinx/Latino/Latina” is a geographical identifier for the region of Latin America. People can be Hispanic, Latinx, or both, depending on their ancestry and language. 

Making up 19.1 percent of the total U.S. population, these groups are found throughout the country, but in the largest percentages in:

1. Puerto Rico (97.8 percent)
2. New Mexico (48.6 percent)
3. California (40.4 percent)
4. Texas (39.8 percent)
5. Arizona (31.6 percent)
6. Nevada (29.9 percent)
7. Florida (27.4 percent)
8. Colorado (22.7 percent)
9. New Jersey (22.7 percent)
10.  New York (19.8 percent)

Within this population, Mexican Americans are the largest Hispanic/Latinx subgroup at 58.9 percent. 

U.S. Healthcare and the Experiences of the Hispanic and Latinx Populations

In 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that the average life expectancy of Hispanic and Latinx individuals (of any race) is 82.8 years for females and 77.5 years for males. This is compared to 80.1 for females and 75.1 for males who are non-Hispanic Caucasians. 

While it appears that these individuals can have a longer life expectancy than some other racial and ethnic groups, Hispanic and Latinx health is still influenced by external factors. For example, 16.8 percent of Hispanic and Latinx people (of any race) had no health insurance coverage according to a 2022 ACS estimate. Another 51.5 percent had private health insurance, and 37.9 percent had public health insurance. 

Other considerations that can influence these populations’ access to care include:

• Access to preventative care in their local communities
• Language barriers (Spanish, Portuguese, Quechua, Kuna, Miskito, Dutch, and other languages are spoken by some subsects of the Hispanic/Latinx population)
• Cultural barriers 

Patient Experiences 

Hispanic and Latinx patients in the United States face the previously mentioned barriers and challenges when needing healthcare treatments and services, which can lead to significant disparities in care and health outcomes. A strong example of how inequities in the healthcare system impact these communities was seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which time it was seen that Hispanic Americans, specifically, were more likely to be hospitalized or die from the virus than White Americans. 

But a Pew Research survey found that there are other reasons for generally worse health outcomes, which can be linked to the jobs some Hispanic people have (among other factors). In fact:  

• 53 percent of Hispanic adults stated that working in jobs with risks of health problems was a major reason for worse health outcomes. 
• 44 percent pointed to language and cultural differences as a major reason for worse health outcomes.
• 30 percent believed that healthcare providers were less likely to give advanced care.

Around half of those interviewed by Pew Research reported that they had less access to quality medical care where they lived, and 40 percent said that preexisting conditions could lead to worse health outcomes for their communities. These issues, among others, show why these disparities may be so stark in healthcare.

Primary Conditions and Issues Affecting Hispanic/Latinx Communities

Some conditions are prevalent within Hispanic and Latinx communities. These include:

• Diabetes: Around 50 percent of Hispanic people are expected to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in their lifetimes, compared to 40 percent within the general population of the United States.  
• Hypertension (high blood pressure): Approximately one in four Hispanic people has high blood pressure, which can lead to issues such as strokes, peripheral arterial disease, heart attacks, and/or heart failure.
• Chronic liver disease: This is a leading cause of death among the Hispanic population. 
• Cancer: Hispanic males (of any race) experience cancer at a rate of 367 per 100,000, according to a study from 2021. Hispanic females (of any race) experience cancer at a rate of 347.8 per 100,000 during that same timeline.

Core Challenges to Patient Care and Access

Challenges to patient care and access to care vary from state to state, but Hispanic and Latinx populations often run into problems, including:

• Systemic barriers
• Income barriers
• Lack of insurance coverage
• Discrimination
• Language barriers
• Immigration status barriers
  

Hispanic adults are less likely than other Americans to have a primary care provider, and only 70 percent said they’d seen a doctor or healthcare provider in the last year (that’s compared with 82 percent of the general population). 

This group is less likely to have health insurance, and many prefer to see Spanish-speaking healthcare providers, which can be a barrier to care in locations where bilingual services are less common. Importantly, while just over 19 percent of the population is made up of Hispanic Americans, only nine percent of the health care practitioners and technicians in the United States are Hispanic. 

How Healthcare Professionals Can Make a Difference

As a nurse or other healthcare professional, recognizing disparities in the services provided to Hispanic and Latinx communities is the first step toward correcting this issue in the U.S. healthcare system. Some additional ways to help could include:

• Addressing language barriers by providing access to interpreters and bilingual staff members.
• Creating educational opportunities tailored to Hispanic and Latinx cultures.
• Supporting affordable and accessible healthcare settings and systems. 
• Understanding, respecting, and communicating based on cultural norms in these communities. 

SHC Supports Providers in Building Better Healthcare 

At SHC, we believe that nurses and other healthcare professionals play a crucial role in reducing healthcare disparities across the nation. Our team also believes in creating a more diverse and supportive healthcare workforce to better serve our communities.

By being more aware and educated about these challenges, healthcare professionals can make a difference where they are needed most. Search our open jobs now to find a role where you can support patients across the country!