Does MHPA require all group health plans to provide mental health benefits?
No. Group health plans are not required to include mental health coverage in their benefits packages. The requirements under MHPA apply only to group health plans offering mental health benefits. Also, parity does not apply to any policies sold in the individual market. 4. May group health plans impose other restrictions on mental health benefits and still be in compliance with the MHPA? Yes. The law does not affect the terms and conditions (such as cost sharing, limits on numbers of visits or days of coverage, and requirements relating to medical necessity) relating to the amount, duration, or scope of mental health benefits. 5. Do all group health plans offering mental health benefits have to meet the parity requirements? No. There are two exemptions from the parity requirements. The mental health parity requirements do not apply to small employers who have between 2 and 50 employees or to any group health plan whose costs increase one percent or more due to the application of the pa
