A method is provided for use in a computer system including a client and a health registration authority. The health registration authority is configured to accept requests for assertions, and the client has a health state described by at least one health claim. The method may include an act of including an indication of the at least one health claim of the client in a request for an assertion. A second method is provided for use in a computer system comprising a client, an assertion authority, and a plurality of health policies. The method can include an act of including an indication of at least one health policy that the health claim of the client satisfies in an assertion.