Insurance Parity Resources 

Insurance parity means that insurers cannot put more limits on accessing mental health care than on accessing physical health care, including:

• Higher copays or coinsurance for mental health care,
• Lower visit limits for mental health care.
• Different methods for setting mental health reimbursement rates.

These are all parity violations.

In 2008, Congress passed the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), which requires insurance parity. However, there have been persistent issues in enforcing this law. ACA is actively working to support insurance parity enforcement. We are encouraging members to contact their legislators about the importance of insurance parity and how legislators can further. Insurance parity is critical to ensuring equitable access to care for both mental health providers and their clients.

Below are several additional resources you can use in the ongoing fight for stronger insurance parity protections.