Bill
AB 951
California law requires health insurers to cover behavioral health diagnoses identically to physical health, eliminating higher cost-sharing and approval barriers for mental health and addiction treatments.
AB 951 requires California health insurance plans to cover behavioral health diagnoses and treatments with the same standards applied to physical health conditions, eliminating differential cost-sharing and prior authorization requirements that may be more restrictive for mental health services. The bill was signed into law in July 2025 and aligns California's insurance regulations with federal parity requirements under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.
Mental health coverage has historically been subject to higher out-of-pocket costs and more restrictive barriers than physical health care, discouraging individuals from seeking needed treatment. This legislation aims to reduce financial and procedural obstacles to behavioral health care, potentially improving access and treatment outcomes for Californians dealing with mental illness and substance use disorders.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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