Currently the Mental Health Parity Act that was put in place in 2008 is only law for large group policies-those with 50 or more employees.  So a small group or an individual policy does not have to comply with this law.  In addition usually small groups or individual policies do not have to comply with most state laws concerning mental health.   This will change, in part, in 2014 when the Affordable Care Act requires such plans to cover an essential set of services including mental health and substance abuse.    Mental Health Parity only speaks to the limits that were in force the visit limits and dollar limits.  It does not speak to deductible but it is supposed to speak to out of network benefits.  If out of network benefits are a part of the policy for say Oncology they are not permitted to exclude mental health or substance abuse.   Bottom line is consumers need to pay attention to where they are getting coverage.