For Consumers

Types of insurance mental health parity covers and who enforces it

Several different federal and state agencies oversee mental health parity rules depending on the type of plan. 

A chart that shows the health plan type and who enforces mental health parity for that plan.

Plan type

Who enforces parity?

Individual/family plan

Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner 

Fully insured large group

Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner 

Fully insured small group

Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner 

Apple Health (Medicaid)

Washington state Health Care Authority

Medicaid.gov

Self-funded

U.S. Dept. of Labor

Self-funded state and local government employer plan

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight

Mental health parity protections do not apply to:

  • Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage
  • TRICARE
  • U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs
  • Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSM)