Your mental health and substance use disorder benefits are protected by the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
It's the law: Most health insurance providers must cover mental health and substance use disorder benefits the same way they cover physical health benefits.
Workers and families:

Check your plan's mental health benefits
The summary plan description should say what mental health and substance use disorder benefits and rights your plan covers. If you can’t find a copy, contact your health plan administrator.

Find the treatment option that’s best for you
Ask your primary care physician to connect you to specialists, social workers or therapists. (Your plan may cover telehealth and virtual visits.)

Read up on your rights

Talk to a benefits advisor
We can help explain your mental health and substance use disorder benefits. Visit askebsa.dol.gov or call 1-866-444-3272.
More resources for workers and families:
- Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
- Final Regulation
- Technical Release | Public Comments
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part V)
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part VII)
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part XVII)
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part XVIII)
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part XXIX)
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part 31)
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part 34)
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part 38)
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part 39 - Proposed)
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part 39 - Final)
- Outpatient Benefit Sub-classifications
- Understanding Implementation of MHPAEA
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part 45)
- FY2022 MHPAEA Enforcement Fact Sheet
- FY2021 MHPAEA Enforcement Fact Sheet
- FY2020 MHPAEA Enforcement Fact Sheet
- FY2019 MHPAEA Enforcement Fact Sheet
- FY2018 MHPAEA Enforcement Fact Sheet
- FY2017 MHPAEA Enforcement Fact Sheet
- FY2016 MHPAEA Enforcement Fact Sheet
- FY2015 Enforcement Fact Sheet
- MHPAEA IFR Fact Sheet
- Mental Health and Addiction Insurance Help
- Standards Related to Essential Health Benefits, Actuarial Value, and Accreditation
- Application of MHPAEA to Medicaid MCOs, CHIP, and Alternative Benefit (Benchmark) Plans
- Internal Claims and Appeals and External Review
- Mental Health Parity Act Model Forms
- Roundtable conversation hosted by Rep. Katie Porter with Assistant Secretary Lisa M. Gomez
- Understanding Your Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Benefits
- Francene Marie Show with Assistant Secretary Lisa M. Gomez
- OC Health and Education Show, Little Saigon TV, Los Angeles, CA interview with Thuy Pham about Employee Benefits
- Puede escuchar la entrevista a Rubén Chapa, Director Regional de Chicago, sobre la Ley de Igualdad de la Salud Mental y Equidad de Adicciones en la Estación radial Zol 107.9, WLZL, Washington, DC
- Rompiendo barreras para acceder a los beneficios de salud mental
- Disclosure Guide: Making the Most of Your Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Benefits
- Know Your Rights: Parity for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Benefits
- Parity of Mental Health and Substance Use Benefits with Other Benefits: Using Your Employer-Sponsored Health Plan to Cover Services
- Understanding Parity: A Guide to Resources for Families and Caregivers
- Top Ten Ways to Make Your Health Benefits Work for You
- elaws Health Benefits Advisor
- Questions? EBSA Has the Answers | in Spanish
- 2023 Report to Congress: MHPAEA Comparative Analysis: July 2023
- 2022 Report to Congress: Realizing Parity, Reducing Stigma, and Raising Awareness
- DOL 2020 Report to Congress: Parity Partnerships: Working Together
- DOL 2018 Report to Congress: Pathway to Full Parity
- HHS Action Plan
- DOL 2016 Report to Congress: Improving Health Coverage for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Patients
- DOL 2014 Report to Congress: Compliance With the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008
- DOL 2012 Report to Congress: Compliance With the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008
- HHS Study: Consistency of Large Employer and Group Health Plan Benefits with Requirements of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008
- HHS Study: Short-Term Analysis to Support Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Implementation
- SAMHSA Home Page
- SAMHSA Health Reform - Mental Health Parity
- SAMHSA - Caring for Every Child's Mental Health
- SAMHSA - National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare
- SAMHSA - National Prevention Week
- National Institute of Mental Health
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
- Department of Defense Centers of Excellence
- Children's Mental Health Network
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners
- National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Health Law Advocates
- National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
- National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, Inc.
- Community Catalyst
- Legal Action Center
- The College for Behavioral Health Leadership
Employers and advisers:

Check to see if you're compliant
Use our online self-compliance tool* to assess whether your plans are in compliance with the federal mental health requirements.

Find answers to frequently asked questions
View answers to frequently asked questions to help you understand federal law.

Read our compliance assistance publications
Read our publications to help you understand and comply with the law on our website, including our Warning Signs – Plan or Policy Non-Quantitative Treatment Limitations (NQTLs) that Require Additional Analysis to Determine Mental Health Parity Compliance.

Talk to a benefits advisor
Still have questions about compliance? Visit askebsa.dol.gov or call 1-866-444-3272 to speak with a benefits advisor today.
* Please note that the 2020 MHPAEA Self-Compliance Tool was last updated before the enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), and while it suggests using the tool as a best practice, it does not reflect that plans and issuers subject to MHPAEA are now required to perform and document their NQTL comparative analyses under the CAA. Plans and issuers that have carefully applied the guidance in the Self-Compliance Tool should be in a strong position to comply with the CAA’s requirement to perform and document a comparative analysis with respect to the design and application of NQTLs.
More resources for employers and advisers:
- Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
- Final Regulation
- Interim Final Rule
- Technical Release | Public Comments
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part V)
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part VII)
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part XVII)
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part XVIII)
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part XXIX)
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part 31)
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part 34)
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part 38)
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part 39 - Proposed)
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part 39 - Final)
- Outpatient Benefit Sub-classifications
- Understanding Implementation of MHPAEA
- Mental Health Parity Implementation (ACA FAQs Part 45)
- FY2022 MHPAEA Enforcement Fact Sheet
- FY2021 MHPAEA Enforcement Fact Sheet
- FY2020 MHPAEA Enforcement Fact Sheet
- FY2019 MHPAEA Enforcement Fact Sheet
- FY2018 MHPAEA Enforcement Fact Sheet
- FY2017 MHPAEA Enforcement Fact Sheet
- FY2016 MHPAEA Enforcement Fact Sheet
- FY2015 Enforcement Fact Sheet
- MHPAEA Interim Final Rule Fact Sheet
- Mental Health and Addiction Insurance Help
- Compliance Assistance Guide - Health Benefits Coverage Under Federal Law
- Approaches in Implementing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act: Best Practices from the States
- Standards Related to Essential Health Benefits, Actuarial Value, and Accreditation
- Application of MHPAEA to Medicaid MCOs, CHIP, and Alternative Benefit (Benchmark) Plans
- Internal Claims and Appeals and External Review
- Mental Health Parity Act Model Forms
- Roundtable conversation hosted by Rep. Katie Porter with Assistant Secretary Lisa M. Gomez
- Francene Marie Show with Assistant Secretary Lisa M. Gomez
- OC Health and Education Show, Little Saigon TV, Los Angeles, CA interview with Thuy Pham about Employee Benefits
- Puede escuchar la entrevista a Rubén Chapa, Director Regional de Chicago, sobre la Ley de Igualdad de la Salud Mental y Equidad de Adicciones en la Estación radial Zol 107.9, WLZL, Washington, DC
- Rompiendo barreras para acceder a los beneficios de salud mental
- Compliance Assistance National Webcast 2022
- 2020 MHPAEA Self Compliance Tool Word Version | Printer Friendly Version
Please note that the 2020 MHPAEA Self-Compliance Tool was last updated before the enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), and while it suggests using the tool as a best practice, it does not reflect that plans and issuers subject to MHPAEA are now required to perform and document their NQTL comparative analyses under the CAA. Plans and issuers that have carefully applied the guidance in the Self-Compliance Tool should be in a strong position to comply with the CAA’s requirement to perform and document a comparative analysis with respect to the design and application of NQTLs. - Preface
- Public Comments on Proposed 2020 Tool
- Proposed 2020 MHPAEA Self Compliance Tool Word Version | Printer Friendly Version
- 2018 MHPAEA Self-Compliance Tool Word Version | Printer Friendly Version
- Self-Compliance Tool
- Mental Health and Substance use Disorder Parity: Compliance Assistance Materials Index
- Warning Signs – Plan or Policy Non-Quantitative Treatment Limitations (NQTLs) that Require Additional Analysis to Determine Mental Health Parity Compliance
- Questions and Answers on the Mental Health Parity Provisions
- elaws Health Benefits Advisor
- 2023 Report to Congress: MHPAEA Comparative Analysis: July 2023
- 2022 Report to Congress: Realizing Parity, Reducing Stigma, and Raising Awareness
- DOL 2020 Report to Congress: Parity Partnerships: Working Together
- DOL 2018 Report to Congress: Pathway to Full Parity
- HHS Action Plan
- DOL 2016 Report to Congress: Improving Health Coverage for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Patients
- DOL 2014 Report to Congress: Compliance With the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008
- DOL 2012 Report to Congress: Compliance With the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008
- HHS Study: Consistency of Large Employer and Group Health Plan Benefits with Requirements of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008
- HHS Study: Short-Term Analysis to Support Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Implementation
- SAMHSA Home Page
- SAMHSA Health Reform - Mental Health Parity
- SAMHSA - Caring for Every Child's Mental Health
- SAMHSA - National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare
- SAMHSA - National Prevention Week
- National Institute of Mental Health
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
- Department of Defense Centers of Excellence
- Children's Mental Health Network
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners
- National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Health Law Advocates
- National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
- National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, Inc.
- Community Catalyst
- Legal Action Center
- The College for Behavioral Health Leadership
The Department of Labor is committed to ensuring all Americans have access to the mental health and substance abuse disorder care they need.
Learn more about how we’re working across the government to promote mental health parity and enforce the law:
Mental Health Parity is the Law, and We're Enforcing it
We’re ramping up our efforts to ensure everyone gets the mental health and substance use disorder care they are entitled to under the law.
Making Mental Health Parity a Priority
Whether you’re seeking care for a sprained ankle or for opioid use, your benefits are protected by the law.
4 mental health resources for employers
If you are an employer or plan service provider with questions on complying with the law, these resources can help.
How to Use Your Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Benefits
Your health insurance plan may cover the mental health and substance use disorder treatment you need, thanks to the federal law on mental health parity. These resources can help you seek out care.