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S 2031 104th Congress Senate

Mental Health Parity Act of 1996

Official title: A bill to provide health plan protections for individuals with a mental illness.

Introduced: August 2, 1996 See on congress.gov
Health Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceDiscrimination in insuranceDiscrimination in medical care
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Employee health benefitsHealth insuranceHealth insurance industryHealth maintenance organizationsInsurance companiesLabor and EmploymentMental health servicesSmall business
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This bill died when the 104th Congress ended
It never became law before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 2, 1996
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.
Aug 2, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9579)
Aug 2, 1996
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action August 2, 1996

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 - Requires a group health plan that applies an aggregate lifetime (or annual) limit for medical or surgical services, if the plan also provides a mental health benefit, to include mental health payments in that limit or establish a separate aggregate lifetime (or annual) limit for mental health services, with the mental health limit not less than the medical or surgical limit. Prohibits a group health plan that does not apply a medical or surgical limit from applying a mental health limit. Exempts employers with fewer than 26 employees.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Grassley, Chuck
Iowa · Aug 2, 1996
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2031: Mental Health Parity Act of 1996. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-2031/
MLA
"S. 2031: Mental Health Parity Act of 1996." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-2031/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2031, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-2031/.
Markdown link
[S. 2031: Mental Health Parity Act of 1996](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-2031/)
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