Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-102
§18115 Freedom Not to Participate in Federal Health Insurance Programs
Title 42 › CHAPTER 157 — QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS › SUBCHAPTER VI — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › § 18115
Summary
People and organizations that sell group or individual health insurance do not have to join any federal health insurance program created or expanded by this Act or by changes the Act makes. They cannot be fined or punished for choosing not to join.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §18115
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
No individual, company, business, nonprofit entity, or health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage shall be required to participate in any Federal health insurance program created under this Act (or any amendments made by this Act), or in any Federal health insurance program expanded by this Act (or any such amendments), and there shall be no penalty or fine imposed upon any such issuer for choosing not to participate in such programs.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This Act, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 111–148, Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 119, known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 18001 of this title and Tables.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 18115
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102