Mental health parity laws by state

Limited parity. If offered, statute requires parity for autism. Excludes residential treatment for anorexia or bulimia.

Exemption for “barebones” policies.

Limited parity.

45 inpatient day and 35 outpatient visit benefit for other mental health conditions. May be subject to 50 percent co-pay and lesser of annual limit of $10,000 or 25 percent of lifetime policy limit.

Minimum mandated benefit.

Minimum benefit of 30 inpatient days and 52 outpatient visits.

Serious mental illness, including pervasive developmental disorder, autism, and ADHD.

More limited coverage for other mental health and substance use disorders.

Minimum mandated benefit.

Requirements met if plan provides 45 in-patient days and 52 out-patient visits annually.

Mandated offering for other mental health disorders.

Limited parity. Allows different copays, co-insurance and deductibles.

Minimum 60 day inpatient days and 24 outpatient visits for other mental health disorders.

Minimum mandated benefit

Cost increase cap of 1 percent. Minimum of 30 inpatient days and 52 outpatient visits per year; outpatient benefit may be limited to a maximum of $50 per visit or 50 percent of expense. Mandated offering for groups of 100 or fewer.

Limited parity.

Maximum 20 inpatient days for other mental health disorders. Outpatient treatment fo other mental health disorders may be limited to $2,000 per year. Inpatient and outpatient substance use treatment is subject to $6,000 maximum in 12-months and lifetime maximum inpatient of $12,000. Allows exclusion of mental health for “barebones” policies (12 mo. pilot).

Mandated if offered.

30 inpatient days annually, with minimum of 60 days per lifetime. 60 outpatient visits per lifetime.

Serious mental illness.

Limited coverage for substance use disorders.

Limited parity. Minimum benefits for chemical dependency and other mental disorders.

Plan imposes limits for inpatient and outpatient substance use disorders.

Requires group health insurance to offer coverage for nine major mental health disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

Minimum mandated benefit. Minimum 45 inpatient days and 30 hours outpatient services for mental health disorders. Minimum 45 inpatient days and 20 outpatient visits for substance abuse disorders. Sixty days residential.

Minimum mandated benefit.

Minimum 30 inpatient and 60 outpatient days annually.

Minimum mandated benefit. Excludes mentally handicapped, learning disorders, motor skills disorders, communication disorders, and “V” codes.

Minimum 30 outpatient visits per year for mental health disorders. Minimum 30 hours outpatient and 30 days residential for substance use disorders.

Broad-based mental health disorders.

Substance use disorders.

Limited parity.

Mandated offering of substance use treatment coverage. Maximum of 30 days total inpatient or outpatient in 6 mos., 90 days lifetime.

Minimum benefit if offered.

1 percent cost increase cap.

Allows different co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles. Minimum of 20 inpatient and 25 outpatient visits annually. Mandated offering of parity benefits for substance abuse disorders.

Minimum mandated benefit.

Mandated offering for small groups. Allows exemptions to mandate for “barebones” policies.

Serious mental illness.

Substance abuse disorders.

Minimum mandated benefits.

Inpatient 30 days, or at least $7,000, minus cost-sharing. Outpatient $2,000 minus cost-sharing.