When Gov. Ned Lamont signed Connecticut’s bipartisan behavioral health parity bill on July 10, he framed it as part of a broader shift toward treating mental and physical health equally. He also acknowledged that families still face steep barriers when trying to use their insurance for behavioral health care, including high out-of-pocket costs or too few in-network providers. “Physical health and mental health are one and the same,” Lamont said at the signing. “And we’re going to make sure our insurance companies remember that every day.” The announcement capped what many advocates say was the most active year for mental health legislation in more than five years. In addition to the parity bill, Lamont appointed the state’s first Behavioral Health Advocate and, during a special session in November, legislators approved a wide-ranging children’s behavioral health bill. But new data shows that even as the state strengthens oversight, demand for care is rising sharply. According to the CT Parity Coalition’s recent State of Mental Health in Connecticut report, 689,000 adults — five times the population of Stamford — experienced a mental illness in 2024, and the state’s youth mental health ranking fell from second in the nation to 21st in a single year. School administrators, clinicians, and community providers have all reported increased need, particularly among adolescents. Affordability and insurance barriers remain a major obstacle The State of Mental Health in Connecticut report also noted that more than 77,000 Connecticut adults could not see a doctor due to cost, despite needing mental health treatment. Residents were four times more likely to be forced out-of-network for mental health care than for primary care, a pattern that advocates say reflects limited in-network provider availability and other longstanding parity issues. Providers report similar challenges playing out in real time. In testimony earlier this year, one clinician described contacting “at least 27 in-network providers, only to find that none was accepting new patients.” With no available options, she said, a child remained in a higher level of care longer than clinically necessary at great cost to the family. Comptroller Sean Scanlon speaks in support of the parity bill at a Mental Health Awareness Month press conference. Governor Ned Lamont stands behind him. Credit: Office of the Comptroller What parity is — and why enforcement matters now These access barriers point to a system that is improving –– slowly. And not nearly fast enough to match growing treatment needs. State officials say the new parity law is designed to help close that gap. Parity is a simple idea with far-reaching implications: mental health and substance use care must be treated the same as physical health care. That means equal coverage, equal access to in-network providers, and equal protection from delays or denials. Fundamentally, arity is the opposite of disparity. Connecticut’s reforms aim to turn parity from a legal requirement into a lived reality for families. For years, regulators said they lacked the tools to enforce that principle. Until October 1, the maximum an insurer could be fined for a violation was $15,000, an amount advocates noted was negligible for large national carriers tracking tens of billions of dollars in annual profits. Under the 2025 reforms, the state Insurance Commissioner can now fine insurers up to $625,000 annually. Lamont has emphasized that enforcement must be a priority, signaling that the state intends to use these new authorities. “We’re going to enforce this. We’re going to make sure there is mental health parity… [the Commissioner of Insurance is] going to enforce this and hold people accountable and make sure our fines are allocated,” he said during the signing. Connecticut’s next major inflection point will come when the Insurance Department completes its annual parity review, expected this spring. It may mark the first significant action in several years, at a time when other states are already responding aggressively. In September, Delaware fined UnitedHealthcare $450,000 for parity violations. In August, Georgia issued $20 million in fines against health insurers for widespread noncompliance. Psychiatrist Dr. Katherine Kennedy speaks at a press conference in support of the parity bill. Attorney General William Tong and Comptroller Sean Scanlon stand behind her. Credit: House Democrats Looking ahead The Connecticut Parity Coalition, a statewide alliance of more than 25 clinician and advocacy organizations, has been tracking these challenges for years. Members say that while 2025 marked a turning point, the next phase of work must focus on ensuring patients can actually access the care they’re entitled to. “Coverage is only meaningful if people can use it,” said one coalition member. “We finally have the tools. Now we need to make sure they work.” State officials and advocates agree that Connecticut’s progress in 2025 lays a strong foundation for the years ahead. But many say the next test will be whether the administration follows through on the Governor’s commitment to robust enforcement, and whether insurers adjust their practices in response. With rising need, workforce strain, and administrative barriers, the work is far from over. As Gov. Lamont said at the signing: “It’s great passing bills, but the bill’s got to be real. The bill’s got to make a difference.” ...read more read less