Language help and interpreter service

We never let language stand in the way of you and your care

Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan speaks with its members in many languages and dialects in addition to English. Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan’s Cultural and Linguistics department (C&L) can also help you. In addition, our Customer Care Representatives speak Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, and Vietnamese, among other languages and dialects. For other languages, we can also assist you through our free interpreting services. Also, we print many of our brochures in different languages.

How we support our members

The following are just some ways we help our members:

• Free interpreting services to members with limited English proficiency (LEP), via telephone or face-to-face interpreters at your provider’s office
• Free sign language interpreting help for our hard-of-hearing or deaf members
• Member handbooks (Evidence of Coverage) and other important information are readily available in a number of languages. If we do not have it available in your language, we will translate it upon request
• Education programs for our providers, staff, and our employees, to help them better understand how a member’s cultural background might affect their healthcare approach
• Programs that help members better understand different cultures
• Upon request, free access to member materials in other formats. This includes documents in Braille, electronic text files, audio, or large print

Language support resources

24/7 after-hours interpreting services

This service is available at no cost to members and providers. You should not use friends, family members, and minors as interpreters. If you need support, call Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan Member Services. Please allow at least 5 to 7 business days for the request of a face-to-face interpreter, and at least 14 business days for sign language help.

 Phone, Los Angeles County: (800) 605-2556 (TTY: 711), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 Phone, San Diego County: (855) 699-5557 (TTY: 711), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For details on how to get interpreting services, review the following materials:

 How to access face-to-face, telephone, and American Sign Language interpreting services (PDF, 80 KB)

 Access to California Relay Services assistance for the hard-of-hearing, deaf, or speech-disabled patients (TTY services) (PDF, 102 KB)

 Free American Sign Language interpreting services for San Diego County (PDF, 1.5 MB)

 Request or refusal of interpreting services forms:

• English (PDF, 508 KB)
• Spanish (PDF, 697 KB)
• Arabic (PDF, 577 KB)
• Armenian (PDF, 1 MB)
• Chinese (PDF, 537 KB)
• Farsi (PDF, 610 KB)
• Khmer (PDF, 590 KB)
• Korean (PDF, 591 KB)
• Russian (PDF, 659 KB)
• Tagalog (PDF, 1.1 MB)
• Vietnamese (PDF, 985 KB)

Get materials in other languages and other formats

Health Education and Member informational materials are available to members in English, Spanish, Arabic, Tagalog, and Vietnamese, among others. Materials in other languages are available by request. To request materials in another language or format, such as Braille, electronic text file, audio, or large print, contact Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan’s C&L department or review the detailed instructions below for your residence area.

 Phone, Los Angeles County: (800) 605-2556 (TTY: 711), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 Phone, San Diego County: (855) 699-5557 (TTY: 711), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 How to access materials in other languages, Los Angeles County (PDF, 461 KB)

 How to access materials in other languages, San Diego County (PDF, 459 KB)

Community programs and services

Community programs and services are available at no cost to members. These programs and services go beyond health education classes and can include, but are not limited to, Domestic Violence, Parenting, Support groups, Adoption Services, Family Counseling, and more. It is important that patients receive culturally and linguistically appropriate resources from community-based organizations and other available agencies. Your provider can contact Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan’s C&L department to assist in locating community organizations and resources that offer culturally sensitive programs and services.

 See our calendar of community events and programs

You may also review the Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan C&L Services Community Resource Directories for where you live:

 Los Angeles and Orange Counties Community Resource Directory (PDF, 843 KB)

 San Diego County Community Resource Directory (PDF, 1.6 MB)