Helping people overcome their aches, pains, and challenges is a rewarding career path. As a massage therapist, you have the opportunity to bring not only physical relief to your clients but also mental and emotional healing. Few things are more relaxing and better for reducing stress than a massage.
Even with the best intentions, extensive training, and years of experience, accidents can happen. In situations where a client is injured or their property is damaged, the consequences can be serious. When it’s all said and done, you could find yourself hurting financially and professionally.
Why You Need Liability Insurance
Protecting yourself and your business from the unexpected and unfortunate can do for you what you do for clients. Massage therapist liability insurance can alleviate your stress, allow you to focus on your work, protect your reputation, and reduce the financial burden of a potential lawsuit. In some states, liability insurance is a prerequisite to professional licensing.
In other words, there is a myriad of reasons to invest in liability insurance as a massage therapist. We strongly encourage you to do your own research to evaluate exactly how insurance can benefit you and your business. You can even reach out to us for more information.
What Does Liability Insurance Cover?
When investing in massage therapist liability insurance, it is important to know exactly what your policy covers (and what it does not). Not all plans are created equal, so familiarizing yourself with what certain options cover is an essential part of determining which to choose. It also ensures that you know the limitations of your coverage should you need to use it.
The first step to understanding liability insurance for massage therapists is differentiating between general and professional liability insurance. An ideal plan will include both types of coverage.
General Liability Insurance for Massage Therapists
Often referred to as “slip and fall” insurance, general liability insurance is intended to protect you when property damage or personal injury occurs in your place of business. The person affected could be a client or a visitor, and you do not have to be involved in the incident. In other words, general liability insurance is not intended to cover hands-on accidents.
Instead, it covers scenarios such as a visitor slipping on spilled massage oil or a massage table breaking, leading to an injury. These unforeseen accidents are unpredictable and often not the fault of anyone in particular. As such, it is important to choose a policy that protects you should such an event occur.
Massage Therapist Professional Liability Insurance
If general liability insurance is for accidents outside of your control, professional liability insurance is best described as malpractice insurance–it covers mistakes that happen under your supervision. Whether it is damage to their property or injury to their body, a client who experiences a negative outcome as a result of their paid session may hold you legally responsible. That’s where professional liability insurance comes in.
Sometimes, these “bad practice” lawsuits are not a result of negligence or even a mistake. Instead, they can include situations where you are doing your job to the best of your ability, and the client claims you damaged a nerve or aggravated a prior injury. Protecting yourself from the fallout of injuries under these circumstances is vital for your financial well-being and reputation.
Massage Magazine Insurance Plus Coverage
Comprehensive coverage gives you the confidence and peace of mind to continue helping people even when accidents may (or do) happen. In addition to professional and general liability insurance–any reputable plan should include both–a full suite of massage therapist liability insurance should cover things like continuing education and product liability. That’s why Massage Magazine Insurance Plus covers all of the following.
- Professional and General Liability
- Product Liability
- Identity Protection
- Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage Access
- Free Continuing Education
- Student Insurance Options
- Instant Coverage Option
- Unlimited Additional Insureds
- Massage, Yoga, Esthetics, and Cosmetology Coverage
- Member Benefit Discounts
- Monthly Payment Options
Keep in mind that even when two companies provide the same benefits, there may be nuances that differentiate them. This can range from varying limits for certain coverage to a spectrum of values in terms of the perks and discounts offered. Considering these seemingly minor differences in context may sway your decision.
What Does Massage Therapist Liability Insurance Not Cover?
Even the most comprehensive liability insurance plan for massage therapists will not cover everything. When researching and selecting the right insurance for you and your practice, it is just as important to familiarize yourself with what is not covered as it is to know what is covered.
Massage Magazine Insurance Plus, for example, is a well-rounded option for massage therapists. It covers a spectrum of possible outcomes and includes a number of valuable benefits. That said, even this industry-leading policy has exclusions.
- Procedures that puncture the skin, including acupuncture, body piercing, branding, permanent tattooing, and so on
- Administration or prescription of digestible medications, biological products, implants, or medical devices
- Aerial yoga
- Hair implants or transplants
- Cosmetic surgery
- Manipulations of the human skeletal structure (Chiropractic)
- Removal of warts, moles, or skin growths
- Procedures that require a medical license
- Hypnosis
- Laser treatments
- Health and nutrition coaching
Get the Massage Therapist Liability Insurance You Need
Choosing the best liability insurance is an integral step in ensuring you are protected in those unfortunate and unforeseen moments. While you hope they never happen–and strive to prevent them through education, effort, and attention to detail–proper liability insurance has your back should something go awry.
If you would like more information about liability insurance, including what’s covered and what isn’t, feel free to reach out to us. We can give you the insight you need to make an informed choice that will protect you and give you the peace of mind you need to continue helping others.
Meet the Author:
Hannah Young
Hannah Young is the Associate Director of Marketing for Massage Magazine Insurance Plus (MMIP). Hannah has dedicated her career to the advancement of the massage therapy industry by spearheading the MASSAGE Magazine and MMIP family of brands. Her impactful efforts extend beyond the corporate realm, as Hannah has successfully raised substantial funds for massage therapist grants and foundations. Notably, she spearheaded the establishment of the annual Massage Therapist Appreciation Week, a testament to her dedication to recognizing and honoring the contributions of massage therapists.
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The opportunity to be insured by MMIP saved me $1,300 per year and helped make it possible to run my own Wellness Center with no liability concerns. I am so grateful to have this insurance option! My stress over insurance expense and coverage is completely gone. Thank you MMIP!
Debbie Merrick
Reiki Practitioner
In Harmony Reiki and Inner Wellness
Massage Magazine Insurance Plus gives me a very broad range of coverage for a great price. Plus MMIP's customer service team have an amazing customer service attitude. I feel totally protected in this in this new massage environment.
Gary Rosenthal
Mindbody Therapist
Whole Body Health Team
MASSAGE
State License Requirements
We want to make finding the information you need easy. That's why we've put together this easy guide to the massage state requirements of all 50 states.
