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Best Parity Laws
Parity applies to all mental health and substance abuse disorders under private insurance plans. No exemptions.

• Connecticut 1999
• Maryland 1994
• Minnesota 1995
• Vermont 1997
• Oregon 2005 *Will not take effect until 2007

Good Parity Laws
Not quite comprehensive parity due to certain exemptions and/or limitations.

• Indiana 1999/2001/2003
  Includes substance abuse; 50 employees exemption; 4% cost increase cap
• Kentucky 2000
  50 employees exemption; includes substance abuse
• Maine 1995/ 2004
  20 employees exemption; includes substance abuse (Except V-Codes)
• New Mexico 2000
  No substance abuse; 1.5% cost increase cap for less than 50 employees & 2.5% for 50 or more employees
• Rhode Island 1994/2001
  Some limitations on outpatient visits; includes substance abuse
• Washington 2005
  50 employees exemption; No substance abuse

Updated September 2005

Limited Parity Laws
Parity applies only to select groups such as those with severe mental illness (SMI) or state & local employees, or only protects against certain types of discrimination.

• Arizona 1997/2001
  Mirrors federal law; 50 employees exemption; 1% cost increase cap; parity for state employees
• Arkansas 1997/2001
  50 employees exemption; 1.5% cost increase cap; excludes state employees; full parity in SCHIP
• California 1999 (SMI)
  Includes children with serious emotional disorders
• Colorado 1997 (SMI)
• Delaware 1998/2001 (SMI)
  Includes substance abuse
• Hawaii 2004 (SMI)
  25 employees exemption; Includes substance abuse treatment.
• Illinois 2001 (SMI)
  50 employees exemption
• Iowa 2005 (SMI)
  50 employees exemption
• Louisiana 1999 (SMI)
  Includes children
• Massachusetts 2000 (SMI)
  50 employees exemption; includes children & co-occurring disorders
• Missouri 2004
  Limits out-of-pocket expenses
• Montana 1999 (SMI)
• Nebraska 1999 (SMI)
  15 employees exemption
• New Hampshire 1994/2002 (SMI)
• Nevada 1999 (SMI)
  Limits out-of-pocket expenses; 25 employees exemption
• New Jersey 1999/2002 (SMI)
• North Carolina 1991/1997
  1991: Comprehensive parity for state & local employees/1997: mirrors federal law; 50 employees exemption; 1% cost increase cap
• Oklahoma 1999 (SMI)
  50 employees exemption; 2% cost increase cap
• South Carolina 2000/2005 (SMI)
  50 employees exemption
• South Dakota 1998 (SMI)
• Texas 1991/1997 (SMI)
  1991: Limited parity for state & local government employees 1997: parity expanded to rest of state; 50 employees exemption
• Tennessee 1998
  25 employees exemption; 1% cost increase cap; excludes copayments, coinsurance and deductibles
• Utah 2000
  Limits out-of-pocket expenses; 50 employees exemption
• Virginia 2004 (SMI)
  Includes substance abuse; 25 employees exemption
• West Virginia 2004 (SMI)
  2004 repealed alcohol coverage; 1 or 2% cost-increase cap

Mental Health Mandates, Not Parity

• Alabama
• Alaska
• D.C.
• Florida
• Georgia
• Kansas
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• New York
• North Dakota
• Wisconsin

No Parity or Mandate Laws

• Idaho
• Wyoming