If a health plan violates ACA Section 1557 nondiscrimination protections, which of the following is a possible outcome?

• A. It may be required to take corrective action and sometimes pay damages and may be sued by individuals
• B. It will automatically lose all licenses
• C. It will receive penalties from tax authorities
• D. It will be exempt from future enforcement

Answer: (A)

Violations of Section 1557 nondiscrimination protections are handled by enforcement that focuses on stopping the discriminatory practices and making those harmed whole. When a health plan violates these protections, authorities can require corrective action—such as revising policies, training staff, improving accessibility and language services, and strengthening complaint processes—to fix the problem. At the same time, individuals who were harmed may seek damages and may pursue private lawsuits to obtain relief. This combination—remediation of the discrimination plus potential damages and private suits—reflects how these civil rights protections are enforced. Automatic loss of licenses, penalties from tax authorities, or automatic exemption from enforcement do not align with how 1557 enforcement works.