Stiff necks, knotted shoulders, and strained backs will bring people straight to a massage table. As a massage therapist, it's your job to relieve tension and cure aches and pains. But what if an accident happens that affects you, your patient, or your practice while you're working miracles? That's what makes having massage therapy insurance so essential.
Fortunately, a local independent insurance agent can help you get equipped with the right massage therapist insurance coverage. They'll compare policies and rates from several different carriers to find the best policy for your business. But first, here's a closer look at massage therapy insurance, what it covers, and why it's necessary.
Key Takeaways - Massage Therapy Insurance
- Massage therapy insurance can provide a blend of professional liability insurance, general liability insurance, commercial property insurance, business interruption insurance, and other essential coverage.
- Massage therapists pay an average of $30 per month, or $360 per year, for general liability insurance, but the cost of a complete massage therapy insurance policy can vary depending on all the types of coverage needed and other factors.
- Having massage therapy malpractice insurance is essential to protect yourself against client claims of injury or other harm suffered as a result of your service.
- Working with an independent insurance agent is strongly recommended, as they can tailor your coverage to meet the needs of your unique business and help you comply with local regulations.
What Is Massage Therapy Insurance?
Massage therapy insurance is coverage that will protect you, your patients, and your business in the unexpected event of an injury or accident. These policies help your business stay afloat in the event of a patient lawsuit. You may also hear this coverage referred to as massage therapist liability insurance, massage malpractice insurance, or professional liability insurance for massage therapists.
Having this coverage is essential for independent massage therapists and spas alike because your general liability coverage included in your business insurance policy won't cover claims of professional errors or negligence. So, if you accidentally cause someone harm during one of your massages, you'd need this special form of professional liability insurance to cover the claim.
Is Massage Therapy Insurance Mandatory?
In some states, massage therapist insurance is mandatory for practitioners before they can legally practice and treat the public. You'll need to review your state's laws and regulations to be certain of whether coverage is required.
However, even if coverage isn't technically required by law, having a policy is still usually a wise decision. Without this coverage, your massage therapy business could face hefty financial losses after a patient lawsuit over claims of harm from your services.
Why Do Massage Therapists Need Insurance?
Massage therapists need coverage against the cost of client lawsuits stemming from malpractice claims for injuries and other harm allegedly caused by their services. In addition to malpractice insurance, massage therapists also need protection for their businesses against property damage, customer slip-and-fall injuries, and other accidents.
Here are just a few disasters massage therapists must be insured against:
- Financial loss: Without insurance, a malpractice and personal injury lawsuit can potentially bankrupt your massage therapy business.
- Asset loss: If a patient decides to sue you, they could seek your money and also, in some cases, your non-business-related assets such as your home, car, etc.
- Reputation loss: A large portion of massage therapy success comes from word of mouth. Just one incident resulting in a patient injury could lead to a disastrous turn for your reputation, and in turn, a loss of new or existing business.
Insurance also protects your patients, since there’s nothing relaxing about accidentally getting injured or having an allergic reaction to an oil during a massage. Having massage therapy business insurance can provide key protection for all parties.
Top Situations That Require Massage Therapist Insurance
Having massage therapist insurance is critical for many reasons. These common scenarios need the right protection:
- Client injury claims
- Property damage to a client's belongings
- Guest and customer slip-and-fall injuries in your spa
- Third-party allegations of malpractice or misconduct
It's also critical to be aware of your state's massage insurance requirements so that your practice is in compliance with local regulations and won't face any penalties. Having massage liability insurance can help protect your practice from many unexpected costs that you might not otherwise be able to recover from.
What Does Massage Therapist Insurance Cover?
Massage therapist insurance covers a practitioner's liability from multiple standpoints. It can also protect the spa or massage therapy business against other types of disasters. Here are some of the main components of massage therapist insurance policies:
- General liability insurance: This covers third-party claims of bodily injury or personal property damage, such as customer slip-and-fall injuries.
- Professional liability insurance: This is also referred to as massage therapist malpractice insurance and covers third-party claims of professional errors, omissions, and negligence during your services that lead to injury or other harm.
- Commercial property insurance: This covers the property of your spa or massage therapy business, including the building and equipment, like massage tables.
- Product liability insurance: This covers third-party claims of injury or other harm caused by the products sold or used by your business, such as massage oils.
- Workers' compensation insurance: This covers your employees against the costs of work-related injuries and illnesses and exempts your business from lawsuits for related claims.
- Business interruption insurance: This covers ongoing operating expenses during temporary closures due to covered disasters, such as extensive fire damage.
- Business owners' policy (BOP) insurance: This combines business interruption insurance, commercial property insurance, and general liability insurance into a convenient package for small businesses.
An independent insurance agent can help you get set up with all the massage therapist business insurance coverage you need.
Do I Need Massage Therapy Insurance If I Work from My Home?
If you practice massage therapy from within your home, you may need additional coverage to protect your business. You’ll want to research an in-home business policy that will provide coverage for business-related visitors and workspaces, as well as coverage for your workspace, equipment, tools, cash, and products.
You can often add this coverage as an endorsement to an existing homeowners insurance policy. An independent insurance agent can help.
How Much Does Massage Therapy Insurance Cost?
Massage therapists pay an average of $30 per month, or $360 per year, for general liability insurance alone. The cost of your coverage will vary depending on your location, company size, the services you offer, your claims history, the number of employees you have, your annual payroll and revenue, and other factors.
Here are some average costs for massage therapist insurance by type:
- General liability insurance: $30 per month or $360 per year
- Professional liability insurance: $42 per month or $504 per year
- Workers' compensation insurance: $50 per month or $600 per year
- Business owner's policy (BOP) insurance: $82 per month or $984 per year
Massage therapist insurance costs can vary considerably depending on how much coverage you need. Independent massage therapists will also likely have different coverage costs than spa-employed practitioners. An independent insurance agent can help you find affordable massage therapy insurance near you.
How to Choose the Right Massage Therapy Insurance
When you're looking for the best massage therapist insurance policy for your business, it's important to first evaluate your coverage needs accurately. You'll need to consider the risk level of your business's services and the annual revenue you generate. Independent practitioners have different coverage needs than therapists in spas or clinics. It's also helpful to compare policies from several different providers to find the best insurance for massage therapists.
A local independent insurance agent can help you with this process and compare massage therapist insurance policies for you. Your agent can find a policy with the right coverage limits and exclusions that make the most sense for your spa. Independent insurance agents know the best massage therapy insurance providers in your area, and they're able to shop and compare massage therapy insurance plans to find the best deal from a top-rated carrier.
Here's How an Independent Insurance Agent Can Help
No matter where you practice massage, having the right coverage for yourself and your business is essential. Fortunately, a local independent insurance agent can help you find the best massage therapist insurance.
They have access to multiple carriers, so they're free to shop and compare policies to find the best blend of coverage and cost. And down the road, your agent can help you file business insurance claims and update your coverage when necessary.
FAQs About Massage Therapy Insurance
What type of insurance do massage therapists need?
Massage therapists typically need at least professional liability insurance or malpractice insurance, general liability insurance, commercial property insurance, and business interruption insurance.
Is massage therapy insurance required by law?
Massage therapists may be required to have insurance by law depending on their state. Be sure to review massage therapist insurance requirements in your area.
How much does massage therapist insurance cost per year?
Massage therapists pay an average of $30 per month, or $360 per year, for general liability insurance alone. The cost of your full policy will depend on the types of coverage you need and other factors.
What does professional liability insurance cover for massage therapists?
Professional liability insurance covers massage therapists against patient malpractice claims of mistakes made during services you provide that resulted in injury or other harm. This coverage can pay for your legal defense costs if you are sued for the incident.
Can I get massage therapy insurance if I work independently?
Yes, independent massage therapists can get insurance for their business and services. An independent insurance agent can help you find the right coverage.
Does massage therapist insurance cover mobile or in-home services?
Depending on the type of policy, massage therapist insurance can cover mobile and in-home massage services. Work with an independent insurance agent to get equipped with the right kind of policy.
What’s the difference between massage malpractice insurance and business liability insurance?
Massage malpractice insurance protects a therapist against professional errors and omissions claims by clients, while business general liability insurance protects against third-party claims of bodily injury or personal property damage. While massage malpractice insurance would cover claims of patient injuries from a massage, general liability insurance would cover customer claims of slip-and-fall injuries.
Sources
https://www.insureon.com/personal-care-business-insurance/massage-therapists/cost
