MIAMI (AP) — Thousands of non-English speaking Floridians who go online to sign up for Medicaid and other welfare programs are met with a frustrating barrier — the state's main webpage is only in English, even though the applications a few clicks away are translated in Spanish and Creole. Health advocates worry how thousands of non-English speakers will fare in signing up for Medicaid expansion or sorting through complicated health plans under the federal health law that is confusing even for lawmakers.

With its vast immigrant population from Cuba, Latin America and Haiti, nearly 4.5 million or 26 percent of Floridians speak a language other than English. More than 16 percent said they did not speak English well and nearly 10 percent don't speak English at all, according to 2007 U.S. census data.

"(Applying under the Affordable Care Act) is going to be like the Florida system on steroids and so complicated with all online stuff and is there going to be the ability or people with English language proficiencies issues to navigate the online process and get assistance when they need it," said Miriam Harmatz, a health law attorney with Florida Legal Services. "Because of our experience in Florida, we're extremely concerned."