The gaps between mental health parity and real care

Publication

Benefits Pro

Date

August 6, 2026

States are imposing record penalties against insurers and health plans for violating mental health parity requirements, signaling that regulators are becoming increasingly serious about enforcing laws that have existed for nearly two decades.

That should be encouraging news. It should also prompt benefits professionals to ask a difficult question: if mental health parity has been the law for years, why do so many employees still struggle to find care?

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