Why Fine Arts therapy should be covered by insurance

 Have you ever had something denied from you because you just couldn’t afford it? Though that might not be a big problem for you now it is for people trying to seek without insurance to cover it. Today I will discuss with you why Fine art therapy should in fact be covered by insurance companies. Art therapy has a variety of benefits such as helping people with physiological conditions/disorders, and the behavior of at risk youth. Plus if insured it would let a greater variety of people have access to this form of therapy. I fully believe Fine Arts therapy should be covered by insurance companies, and by the end of this presentation so will you.

From psychological disorders such as dementia, and mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Many studies, both big and small, have uncovered a multitude of benifits for all ages and disorders. “The National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence reported that the guildliness for phycohous and schizophrenia suggest that art therapies are considered to improve negative symptoms of psychosis. Specialists indicate that therapists and clinical experts consider art therapy to be beneficial, meaningful, and acceptable.” This concludes that art therapy can help even intense psychological disorders that are partially not easily treated. “With appropriate structure, patients with dementia can produce and appreciate visual art.Case of studies and several small trials suggest that art therapy engages attention, provides pleasure, and improves neuropsychiatric symptoms, social behavior, and self esteem.” Once again proving this form of therapy can be beneficial to one's mental being.

There is no question that it has been a struggle to truly find what is best for helping at risk youth, but art therapy might just be the solution we've been searching for. “The children of this program had an increase in self-awareness, development of anger management skills, improved self esteem and social skills, studies show that kids did benefit with the opportunity to express their feelings artistically with various art media.” This was just one of many studies showing benefits of art therapy for adolescents. “Students from these studies show significant reductions in both emotional and behavioral problems.”  Though these studies come from a variety of different sources, the results are all quite similar. Adolescents showing improvement from exposure to art therapy. 

Though art therapy has been shown to improve many issues, for a good portion of people this isn’t an option because of the issue of it being uninsured.  “A therapist who strictly identifies as an art therapist is most likely not going to be covered by insurance policy.” Any form of therapy is undoubtedly not cheap, but most are manageable for families from the people of insurance companies. Art therapy however doesn’t have this helping hand with insurance companies not covering it.  “Despite positive influences of art therapy brings for many, not everyone has access to it.Those who do have access to the therapy through treatment programs or hospitals lose that opportunity to benefit from the therapy once they leave and need outpatient care.”  The issue with people needing to seek outside resources is that with the fight from insurances not gaining money some places have been shut down by the government policies, or don’t make enough money to keep their doors open because people don’t have the money to spare without insurance.

In conclusion, art therapy has been proven to have multiple benefits to mental health, behavioral issues, and if insured can provide this beneficial form of therapy to more individuals that need it. Without insured art therapy the people who need it most will not have access to get what could be life changing help. So by signing my petition you can help spread the message of the benefits of art therapy, and join as a voice for change. To give individuals helpful opportunities that have been wrongfully denied from them because of the inconsiderate actions of insurance companies.