The law has 2 parts: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act.

• Certified full-text version: Affordable Care Act (PDF – 2.41 MB)
• Certified full-text version: Reconciliation Act (PDF – 257 KB)

Summary and certified full-text version in HTML (web page) format:

• HTML version of the Affordable Care Act
• HTML Version of the Reconciliation Act

Learn more about your rights and protections.

Together, these acts make up the codified law (Public Law 111-148) which amended the Public Health Service Act and other laws, primarily adding new provisions into Title 42 of the United States Code. [1]

Key Components of the Actual Legislation

The ACA was designed to overhaul the individual insurance market, expand Medicaid, and support new medical delivery methods. Key legislative pillars include: [1]

• Pre-existing Conditions: Insurers are prohibited from denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on health status (Guaranteed Issue).
• Essential Health Benefits: All plans must cover 10 essential benefit categories, including emergency services, maternity care, mental health, and prescription drugs.
• Young Adult Coverage: Allows young adults to remain on their parents' insurance plan until age 26.
• Premium Subsidies: The law provides tax credits to help households with incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL) pay for insurance, with expanded subsidies through 2025.
• Medicaid Expansion: Originally, the act expanded Medicaid to cover all adults with income below 138% of the FPL. However, the Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that states could choose whether to participate.
• Individual Mandate ($0 Penalty): The original law required individuals to have health insurance or pay a penalty. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 reduced this penalty to $0 effective January 1, 2019.
• Employer Mandate: Employers with 50 or more full-time employees are required to offer affordable, minimum-value coverage or face penalties.
• Medical Loss Ratio (MLR): Insurers must spend 80-85% of premium dollars on health care services, not administrative cost or provide rebates.

The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) is a 1986 U.S. law (49 U.S.C. 41705 - Discrimination against handicapped individuals) (read here ) prohibiting airlines from discriminating against passengers with disabilities. It mandates that carriers provide assistance, accessible aircraft features, and accommodations—such as wheelchair services, seating, and service animal access—on all flights to, from, or within the U.S..

Key Requirements and Rights Under the ACAA

• Assistance: Airlines must provide prompt, safe, and dignified assistance with boarding, deplaning, and connecting flights.
• Wheelchairs/Devices: Carriers must transport assistive devices (including electric wheelchairs) and have procedures to safely stow them. A 2024 rule makes mishandling wheelchairs an automatic ACAA violation.
• Accessible Seating: Airlines must provide seats with movable armrests, bulkhead seats, or extra legroom for specific disability needs.
• Service Animals: Only trained service dogs are recognized; emotional support animals are not protected and are treated as pets.
• Digital Accessibility: Airline websites, kiosks, and mobile apps must be accessible. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

Enforcement and Regulations

The Department of Transportation (DOT) enforces the ACAA. Passengers who experience discrimination can file a complaint with the DOT. The Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights outlines these protections. [1, 2]

Recent Updates (2024–2026)

New regulations require improved on-board wheelchairs (OBWs) on twin-aisle aircraft by 2026, with full fleet compliance by 2031. Training for employees handling mobility devices is also mandated, though enforcement of some 2024 rules was delayed in early 2025.

What to do/where to go for help

Contact the airline with which you are traveling. Many employ designated disability customer service agents. When possible, speak with someone at the airport Speak with a Complaint Resolution Officers (CRO) who will have disability related procedure and resolution training and are available in all US airports in person or by phone 24/7 Follow-up any ACAA violation by filing an incident report with the Department of Transportation or with the airline. Click here for more information on the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Civil Rights Enforcement and Awareness Click here for more information on travel tips and more information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Click here to visit the United Spinal Association website for information on reporting transportation issues.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a landmark U.S. civil rights law prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. It was the first federal civil rights law to broadly protect people with disabilities from discrimination and became an important foundation for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Section 504 states that a qualified individual with a disability cannot, solely because of their disability, be excluded from participating in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under a covered program or activity.

Read Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Key Requirements and Rights Under Section 504

• Equal Access: Covered programs and services cannot exclude or discriminate against qualified people because of disability.
• Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications: Covered entities may be required to make reasonable changes to policies, practices, services, or environments so people with disabilities have meaningful access.
• Education: Schools receiving federal financial assistance must provide students with disabilities equal access to education. This is the law behind what are commonly called “504 Plans.”
• Healthcare and Human Services: Section 504 applies to many hospitals, healthcare providers, Medicaid and Medicare providers, nursing homes, senior centers, human-service organizations, and other programs receiving federal financial assistance.
• Physical Accessibility: Covered programs cannot deny participation or access because of physical barriers and may be required to ensure facilities and services are accessible.
• Communication and Technology: Depending on the covered program and applicable regulations, Section 504 protections can include effective communication and accessible digital services and technology.
• Protection From Retaliation: Individuals are protected from retaliation for asserting rights or participating in a disability discrimination complaint or investigation.

Section 504 and the Disability Rights Movement

Section 504 was enacted in 1973, but implementing regulations were not issued immediately. Disability activists organized demonstrations around the country in 1977 demanding enforcement of the law. The historic Section 504 Sit-in became a defining moment in the disability rights movement and helped secure the regulations that gave Section 504 practical force.

Section 504 helped establish the principle that disability discrimination is a civil rights issue, laying important groundwork for the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Enforcement and Regulations

Unlike the ADA, Section 504 is tied primarily to federal financial assistance. Different federal agencies enforce Section 504 for the programs and funding they administer. For example, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights enforces Section 504 in covered educational institutions.

For health and human-service programs receiving federal financial assistance from HHS, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces Section 504. HHS's regulations address areas including accessibility, reasonable modifications, effective communication, medical treatment and accessible medical equipment.

U.S. Department of Education — Section 504 Information

HHS — Section 504 Information and Regulations

What to Do / Where to Go for Help

If you believe your rights under Section 504 have been violated, first identify what type of program or institution is involved and which federal agency provides or administers its federal funding, because enforcement responsibility can vary by agency.

For discrimination involving a school, college, university, or other education program, contact the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. Complaints generally must be filed within 180 days of the alleged discrimination, although extensions may be available in certain circumstances.

File a Disability Discrimination Complaint with the U.S. Department of Education OCR

For discrimination involving healthcare or human services, including many hospitals, Medicaid providers, nursing homes, senior programs and social-service providers, contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.

File a Civil Rights Complaint with HHS Office for Civil Rights

HHS Office for Civil Rights:
800-368-1019 (Voice)
800-537-7697 (TDD)