EXHIBIT 5.1
 
               OPINION OF WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI, P.C.
 
                                 June 30, 1998
 
Access Health, Inc.
335 Interlocken Parkway
Broomfield, CO 80021
 
       RE:  POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 ON FORM S-3
           TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4 (NO. 333-56253)
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
    We have examined the Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-3 to
Registration Statement on Form S-4 to be filed by you with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on or about June 30, 1998 (as amended by such Post-Effective
Amendment, the "Registration Statement") in connection with the registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of a total of 1,000,000 shares of
your Common Stock (the "Shares"), to be offered for sale by the Selling
Stockholders named therein. We understand that the shares are to be sold by the
Selling Stockholders to the public as described in the Registration Statement.
As legal counsel for Access Health, Inc., we have examined the proceedings
taken, and are familiar with the proceedings proposed to be taken, by you in
connection with the sale and issuance of the Shares.
 
    It is our opinion that, upon completion of the proceedings being taken or
contemplated by us, as your counsel, to be taken prior to the issuance of the
Shares, the Shares, when sold in the manner described in the Registration
Statement and in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Board of
Directors of the Company, will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
 
    We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement, including the prospectus constituting a part thereof, and further
consent to the use of our name wherever it appears in the Registration Statement
and any amendments thereto.
 
                                          Very truly yours,
                                          WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                                          Professional Corporation
                                          /s/ WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI