Massage Therapy Liability Insurance Guide
Q: What is massage liability insurance?
A: Liability insurance is a part of the general insurance system of risk financing to protect the purchaser (the "insured") from the risks of liabilities imposed by lawsuits and similar claims. It protects the insured in the event he or she is sued for claims that come within the coverage of the insurance policy.
Q: Do I really need massage therapy liability insurance?
A: You can, of course, forgo any insurance and assume the entire risk. You can do this as long as you can be assured you will not suffer a major loss. However, since risk is impossible to predict, a better option is to pass any risks you feel would be detrimental to you, your massage business and/or your family to a massage liability insurance carrier.
Q: When should I buy massage liability insurance?
A: You should consider purchasing massage liability insurance when you begin your career as a massage therapist. Coverage is also generally available to students at discounted rates under man programs.
Q: What are the kinds of coverage provided by liability insurance?
A: Most Liability insurance plans include professional liability (malpractice), general liability (trip and fall) and product coverages (eg, adverse reaction to an oil or lotion). Some programs offer additional coverage as well. You should check with the program sponsor for details.
Q: How much should I buy?
A: Most liability insurance programs offer liability protection at $1 million or $2 million dollar coverage per occurrence per year. Annual aggregate coverage generally ranges between $2 million and $3 million.
It is important to note the difference between "occurrence form" and "claims made" coverage. Occurrence form coverage means claims arising out of incidents that occur during the policy term are covered even if they are reported after the end of the policy term. Claims made coverage means claims arising out the incidents that occur during the policy term are covered only if they are also reported before the end of policy term. Some claims made policy forms allow for an extended reporting period beyond the policy term. Occurrence form coverage or claims made coverage with an extended reporting period are generally the best options, compared to pure claims made coverage.
Q: How do I know a liability insurance carrier is legitimate?
A: Check ratings of massage liability insurance carriers with some of the major rating agencies, such as A.M. Best Company, Weiss Ratings, Standard & Poor’s, or Moody’s Investment Services. Look for an “A” rating or better.
Check Lloyds of London's rating from A.M Best, Fitch Ratings, and Standard and Poor's.
Q: How can I be sure I am choosing the best program for my needs?
A: Research the websites of the various massage liability insurance providers and spend the time to compare the benefits and costs of each program. Some of these sites provide an online comparison of their program with those of the competition. Speak to their licensed representatives as necessary to help you to make an informed choise as to what massage insurance program best meets your needs and objectives.
Q: What are the additional benefits to having liability insurance?
A: Additional benefits vary widely by provider but some of the best offers include FREE Identity Protection Insurance, FREE Lost or Stolen Equipment Coverage, a FREE Business Website, and a FREE directory listing on an industry leading website, and a FREE industry newsletter.
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Doing business calls for massage insurance
It is tough to fathom any client ever making such a claim, but insurance was created for those “anything’s possible” circumstances that rarely happen, but call for serious protection when and if they do take place. Product liability insurance is similar, in that it protects you against legal claims of damage or injury caused by a product used during the hands on session.
Insurance enhances piece of mind
Signing up for the right massage therapy liability insurance policy may be necessary not only for a calm and healthy state of mind, but also in order to even practice massage therapy or bodywork, depending on the state or region where you work.Once you have enrolled in a solid massage therapy liability insurance program, you can rest easier, for you will know you are covered in case an unexpected scenario unfolds.
Insurance is integral to opening your practice
Even though these types of occurrences are fairly rare, they do not negate the need for massage therapy liability insurance. In fact, many states and regions require massage therapists and bodyworkers to have massage therapy liability insurance in place before they even open their practices.
Get liability insurance - Just in case
Don’t wait for that unexpected occurrence, that rainy day or that accident to look into liability insurance. Get a high quality massage therapy liability policy in place, and breathe a sigh of relief.
Good business means getting insurance
Hopefully it is now quite clear why massage therapists and bodyworkers need to purchase massage therapy liability insurance before they begin their daily practice. Fortunately, the peace of mind that comes with such a policy is far from pricey. Typically, practitioners can enroll in a solid program from less than a few hundred dollars per year.
As a massage therapist or bodyworker, you most likely know all too well the effects that stress can have on a person’s health and overall wellness. Stress can creep into our lives from so many different directions, such as work, relationships, physical health and especially those scenarios that seem to be out of our control completely.
The need for massage therapy liability insurance is a real one, even if some new practitioners of massage therapy and bodywork find it hard to believe this healing profession requires such a safety net. The truth is, nearly every business, and especially those that deal with the public in physical capacity, needs some kind of insurance policy.
After the session was over, the client thanked the massage therapist and paid her, then went home to relax. About an hour after she got home, the client began to itch all over. Looking in the mirror, she noticed red bumps forming all over her skin. Panicked, she had no idea why she was breaking out in hives.
Imagine a client filing a claim against you for some sort of damage or injury incurred in your session room or on the property of your practice. It is a scenario no professional massage therapist or bodyworker wants to think about or perhaps even believes to be possible.
Massage insurance serves as a safety net
In daily life, it is true that we rarely have “safety nets,” but fortunately, they are not often necessary. However, most people do have a certain sort of invisible “safety net” in the form of insurance, whether it be health insurance, car insurance, life insurance, or some other type of policy.
Be fully prepared with insurance
The main goal of the majority of massage therapists and bodyworkers is to relax their clients and hopefully alleviate any aches or pains they present with in the session room. There is, however, a basic goal that underlies nearly every business that deals with members of the public, and that certainly includes the field of massage therapy and bodywork. This goal is to ensure the safety of each client who steps onto the property.
Insurance protects against the unexpected
In life, it is important to be aware of what makes an accident more likely to happen, as well as ways in which one can decrease the odds of an accident or injury. For instance, if you know you function far better with no less than eight hours of sleep, then you would likely try to get that amount of rest whenever possible, but especially before a long drive or a day of downhill skiing.
Consider the following scenario if you are deciding whether to purchase massage therapy liability insurance or what kind of policy to purchase. A man gets into a car accident, but the damage seems fairly minor, and he walks away with little more than a headache. Four months later, however, his neck is aching and he can barely turn his head to look around.
The need for massage therapy liability insurance is a real one, even if some new practitioners of massage therapy and bodywork find it hard to believe this healing profession requires such a safety net. The truth is, nearly every business, and especially those that deal with the public in physical capacity, needs some kind of insurance policy.
Explore the benefits of massage liability insurance
Perhaps you are trying to decide whether or not you need to purchase massage therapy liability insurance, or maybe you are considering switching programs for a better policy. In either case, there are several key factors you need to consider when selecting massage therapy liability insurance.
When one runs a business that caters to members of the public, as is the case for professional massage therapists and bodyworkers, it is crucial to take certain basic steps to ensure a safe practice and property.
Coverage is key for home-based LMTs
If you work from home as a massage therapist or bodyworker, you may question the need for professional massage therapy liability insurance. It is important to understand that this kind of protection is just as necessary for those touch therapists who practice at home as it is for massage therapists in clinics, spas and other office settings.
By taking the time now to find and sign up for a solid massage therapy liability insurance policy, hands-on healers can secure peace of mind in the face of life’s sometimes unwanted occurrences.
Massage insurance is a safe bet
For most of the choices one makes, the concept of “risk versus reward” can be applied to help reach the proper decision. In the business sense, using the risk versus reward rule can be especially necessary and helpful.
Planning leads to a professional practice
Having a plan is essential to nearly any large project, and certainly a plan is key to running a successful massage therapy or bodywork practice. For starters, it is incredibly important to enroll in a solid massage therapy liability insurance program. Liability insurance should offer a number of benefits to you and your practice. A massage therapy liability insurance policy also should offer general liability protection, which means coverage in case a client is accidentally injured on your property, during a trip, slip, fall or other such accident.
Liability insurance a smart move for massage therapists
Among massage therapists and bodyworkers, however, seeing the need for massage liability insurance may not seem so clear. It is with these “loose cannon” clients that massage liability insurance can come in so handy. If a situation such as the above occurred with a touch therapist who was carrying the right massage liability insurance, she could simply call her insurance carrier to be guided through the process of handling this complaint, which would fall under the malpractice heading of professional massage liability insurance.
Massage liability insurance protects you and your practice
Before you see your first patient, however, you have some essential business issues to attend to — one being massage therapy liability insurance to protect you and your practice.
A few hours invested upfront shopping for the best, most appropriate massage liability insurance options can save you money in premiums or claims down the road. With massage therapist liability insurance, keep in mind you usually get what you pay for. What types of insurance coverage do you need?
Massage therapy insurance: Cheapest not always the less-expensive option
Every massage therapist faces choices; however, making the right choice for your massage therapy business doesn’t always mean selecting the option that costs the least.
In far too many cases, the less-expensive option for massage therapy liability insurance ends up costing you more in the long run. When evaluating available options, you should be wary of incentives.
MMIP includes:
Professional malpractice insurance
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