Source
(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 712, as added Pub. L. 104–204, title VII, § 702(a),Sept. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 2944; amended Pub. L. 107–116, title VII, § 701(a),Jan. 10, 2002, 115 Stat. 2228; Pub. L. 107–313, § 2(a),Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2457; Pub. L. 108–197, § 2(a),Dec. 19, 2003, 117 Stat. 2898; Pub. L. 108–311, title III, § 302(b),Oct. 4, 2004, 118 Stat. 1178; Pub. L. 109–151, § 1(a),Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2886; Pub. L. 109–432, div. A, title I, § 115(b),Dec. 20, 2006, 120 Stat. 2941; Pub. L. 110–245, title IV, § 401(b),June 17, 2008, 122 Stat. 1649; Pub. L. 110–343, div. C, title V, § 512(a), (g)(1)(A),Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3881, 3892.)
Amendments
2008—
Pub. L. 110–343, § 512(g)(1)(A), amended section catchline generally. Prior to amendment, catchline read as follows: “Parity in application of certain limits to mental health benefits”.
Subsec. (a)(1), (2).
Pub. L. 110–343, § 512(a)(8), substituted “mental health or substance use disorder benefits” for “mental health benefits” wherever appearing in pars. (1)(introductory provisions), (A), and (B)(ii) and (2)(introductory provisions), (A), and (B)(ii).
Pub. L. 110–343, § 512(a)(7), substituted “mental health and substance use disorder benefits” for “mental health benefits” wherever appearing in pars. (1)(B)(i) and (C) and (2)(B)(i) and (C).
Subsec. (a)(3) to (5).
Pub. L. 110–343, § 512(a)(1), added pars. (3) to (5).
Subsec. (b)(1).
Pub. L. 110–343, § 512(a)(8), substituted “mental health or substance use disorder benefits” for “mental health benefits”.
Subsec. (b)(2).
Pub. L. 110–343, § 512(a)(2), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “in the case of a group health plan (or health insurance coverage offered in connection with such a plan) that provides mental health benefits, as affecting the terms and conditions (including 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 under the plan or coverage, except as specifically provided in subsection (a) of this section (in regard to parity in the imposition of aggregate lifetime limits and annual limits for mental health benefits).”
Subsec. (c)(1)(B).
Pub. L. 110–343, § 512(a)(3)(A), inserted “(or 1 in the case of an employer residing in a State that permits small groups to include a single individual)” after “of at least 2” and struck out “and who employs at least 2 employees on the first day of the plan year” after “preceding calendar year”.
Subsec. (c)(2).
Pub. L. 110–343, § 512(a)(3)(B), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “This section shall not apply with respect to a group health plan (or health insurance coverage offered in connection with a group health plan) if the application of this section to such plan (or to such coverage) results in an increase in the cost under the plan (or for such coverage) of at least 1 percent.”
Subsec. (e)(3).
Pub. L. 110–343, § 512(a)(8), substituted “mental health or substance use disorder benefits” for “mental health benefits”.
Subsec. (e)(4).
Pub. L. 110–343, § 512(a)(8), which directed amendment of this section by substituting “mental health or substance use disorder benefits” for “mental health benefits” wherever appearing (except in provisions amended by
Pub. L. 110–343, § 512(a)(7)), was not executed to par. (4) as added by
Pub. L. 110–343, § 512(a)(4), to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See below.
Pub. L. 110–343, § 512(a)(4), added par. (4) and struck out former par. (4). Text read as follows: “The term ‘mental health benefits’ means benefits with respect to mental health services, as defined under the terms of the plan or coverage (as the case may be), but does not include benefits with respect to treatment of substance abuse or chemical dependency.”
Subsec. (e)(5).
Pub. L. 110–343, § 512(a)(4), added par. (5).
Subsec. (f).
Pub. L. 110–343, § 512(a)(6), added subsec. (f).
Pub. L. 110–343, § 512(a)(5), struck out subsec. (f). Text read as follows: “This section shall not apply to benefits for services furnished—
“(1) on or after January 1, 2008, and before June 17, 2008, and
“(2) after December 31, 2008..”
Pub. L. 110–245substituted “services furnished—” for “services furnished after December 31, 2007” and added pars. (1) and (2).
Subsec. (g).
Pub. L. 110–343, § 512(a)(6), added subsec. (g).
2006—Subsec. (f).
Pub. L. 109–432substituted “2007” for “2006”.
2005—Subsec. (f).
Pub. L. 109–151substituted “December 31, 2006” for “December 31, 2005”.
2004—Subsec. (f).
Pub. L. 108–311substituted “after December 31, 2005” for “on or after December 31, 2004”.
2003—Subsec. (f).
Pub. L. 108–197substituted “December 31, 2004” for “December 31, 2003”.
2002—Subsec. (f).
Pub. L. 107–313substituted “December 31, 2003” for “December 31, 2002”.
Pub. L. 107–116substituted “December 31, 2002” for “September 30, 2001”.
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Amendment by
Pub. L. 110–343applicable with respect to group health plans for plan years beginning after the date that is 1 year after Oct. 3, 2008, except that amendment by section 512(a)(5) of
Pub. L. 110–343effective Jan. 1, 2009, with special rule for collective bargaining agreements, see section 512(e) of
Pub. L. 110–343, set out as a note under section
300gg–26 of Title
42, The Public Health and Welfare.
Effective Date
Section 702(c) of
Pub. L. 104–204provided that: “The amendments made by this section [enacting this section] shall apply with respect to group health plans for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 1998.”