Mental health is an area of health care that has been largely ignored in terms of its coverage by insurance plans. However, in 1996 Congress passed the Mental Health Parity Act that attempted to address the disparity between mental health and physical health coverage. The Act aimed to provide coverage for mental health services without annual or lifetime monetary limits that were different from the monetary limit placed on medical or surgical services under a group health plan. “For example, if a health plan provided a one million dollar lifetime limit for medical and surgical benefits, it must provide a one million dollar lifetime limit for mental health benefits.” (Hamline) “This Act was a response to an attempt by health insurance providers to decrease costs associated with providing treatment for mental illnesses by placing restrictions and limitations on benefits for mental illnesses that did not apply to physical illnesses.” (Noel ) However, disparities still remained. Insurers were still able to find loopholes in the legislation to differentiate mental health coverage and remain limiting access to care. "Although recognition and treatment of mental health disorders have become integrated into routine medical care, inequities remain in terms of limits on the number of visits a health insurance plan