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Nondiscrimination Policy

Summary of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act

Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act is a federal rule that protects people from discrimination in health programs and activities. It requires equal access to care and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

This rule is built on long-standing civil rights laws, including Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, and the Age Discrimination Act. It is also the first federal civil rights law to ban sex-based discrimination across all health programs and activities that receive federal funding.

The law has been in effect since 2010, and the HHS Office for Civil Rights continues to enforce these protections.

Who Is Covered?

This rule applies to:

  • Health programs and facilities that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (for example: hospitals that accept Medicare or providers who accept Medicaid)
  • Health programs operated directly by HHS
  • Health Insurance Marketplaces and insurance companies that participate in them

Need Language Assistance?

If you speak one of the languages below, free language assistance services are available.

Call: State Health Insurance Assistance Program Language Line – 800-792-8820

  • Spanish
  • Chinese
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Gujarati
  • Polish
  • Italian
  • Arabic
  • Tagalog
  • Russian
  • French Creole
  • Hindi
  • Vietnamese
  • French
  • Urdu