What Insurance Should a Massage Therapist Have?

When you’re in the business of alleviating others from pain, stress, and tension, it can be hard to imagine a scenario that doesn’t end positively for everyone involved. However, massage therapy is not without its risks, whether that be a client slipping during a visit or an allegation of injury. It’s important to recognise the value of insurance in protecting both you and your customers.

So, what insurance should a massage therapist have? That’s what we’ll be covering in this guide. We’ll take you through the key types of insurance available to you, their role in protecting your business, reputation, and financial stability, and how much it can cost you to safeguard yourself against any risks.

There are several reasons why massage therapists need insurance, including:

Protection

The main reason why massage therapists need insurance is to protect them against risks such as client injury, property damage, or legal claims. No matter how experienced or reliable you are, accidents will happen, and so can misunderstandings.

Whether it’s an allegation that you worsened an injury, a piece of your equipment has broken, and are unable to work, it helps to be prepared in the event of something going wrong.

Licence requirements

Massage therapists in the UK are not legally required to have insurance. That said, there are a lot of professional certifications and licences that require masseurs to be insured, such as the National Association of Massage and manipulative therapy.

Whatever path you take, insurance should be as a non-negotiable.

Peace of mind

Above all, having insurance gives you peace of mind that both you and your business are financially protected if something goes wrong. The more prepared you are for unexpected events, the more you can focus on the things within your control.

There are a few key types of insurance that a massage therapist should have.

Professional indemnity insurance for massage therapists

Professional indemnity insurance protects massage therapists against allegations of professional negligence, malpractice, failing to provide duty of care, etc. Some examples include:

• Your client alleges that your service failed to deliver the expected results.

• Your client alleges that your service led to further injury, either causing more pain or preventing them from work, or both.

Professional indemnity insurance covers legal and compensation costs that arise from claims made against a professional for alleged negligence, errors, or omissions in the course of their work. This may include claims for financial loss, damage to reputation, or breach of confidentiality.

Due to the nature of the job, and the expectations that come with it, massage therapists are . Professional indemnity insurance is therefore considered a vital, if not essential, form of cover and a core business need.

Despite being similar in the way that they operate, when it comes to the types of compensation claims that are covered, there’s a huge difference between medical malpractice insurance and professional indemnity insurance.

As mentioned, unlike public liability insurance, both cover compensation claims arising out of professional activities. However, the cover under a professional indemnity policy is a lot more restrictive than the cover under a medical malpractice policy.

Professional indemnity insurance only covers compensation claims involving purely economic losses. This means that if someone makes a claim against you alleging that your professional negligence resulted in them being injured or their property being damaged, professional indemnity insurance would not cover you.

Medical malpractice insurance, however, does cover professional negligence compensation claims involving an injury or property damage. For people in the hair and beauty sector, this is an important difference. A compensation claim for facial scarring could cost £50,000 plus the cost of any private cosmetic surgery, whereas a professional indemnity insurance would not cover such a claim.

Public liability insurance is a vital form of cover that protects businesses from claims made by third parties who suffer an injury or damage while on the premises. That someone could be your client, but it could also be a stranger, a delivery person, or anyone else you come in contact with during your work – hence why it’s so important.

For example, if someone slipped on wet floor in your premises, public liability insurance would come in handy It would cover the legal defence fees, compensation, and medical expenses from any claims that arise, ensuring your business doesn't end up out of pocket.

Since massage therapists deal with the public daily, this type of insurance is critical for safeguarding against unforeseen accidents.

If you use products during your treatment, having product liability insurance can be essential to keeping you and your business safe from claims.

Let’s say a client has an allergic reaction to a product used during their treatment or bought from the salon. Product liability insurance would cover the cost of legal fees and compensation. Seeing as massage therapy often involves the use of chemical products, like oils, lotions and/or equipment, this cover can be especially important.

Business equipment insurance covers the repair or replacement costs of your professional equipment in the event of theft, fire, or accidental damage. This form of cover acts as a safety net so your workflow and earning potential can remain uninterrupted, even when the unexpected happens.

Massage therapists who own expensive or highly specialised equipment will require more cover than someone who only has basic equipment, but the great thing about this form of insurance is that you can tailor it depending on the value and importance of your equipment.

Employer’s liability insurance is a legal requirement for massage therapists who employ staff on a full or part-time basis and has dual benefits for both you and your team. It protects you, as an employer, against any claims made by employees who suffer a work-related injury and/or illness – but it also protects them too.

It’s this insurance that covers the legal costs in defending the claim, any compensation payments due, or other associated costs. The most common claims tend to be slips, trips and falls, but other examples include accidents caused by defective equipment or repetitive strain injuries.

The cost of insurance for massage therapists in the UK depends on several factors, which we’ll list out below. When deciding on a policy, consider all of these. Remember, insurance is there to protect you and your business. It’s always best to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

• The size of your business: Larger practices or those with employees will generally pay more for insurance than individual practitioners.

• The number of covers you take out: More comprehensive policies with higher coverage will cost more.

• Location: Costs may vary depending on local regulations, have multiple business locations.

• Your claims history: If you have an adverse claims history, an insurer might see you as high-risk and require a higher cost, or not be able to offer cover.

• Property: Whether you own a business property or work on a mobile basis.

All these factors will determine the rate you pay on a monthly or yearly basis to provide you with cover whilst working as a massage therapist. However, it really is important to shop around and compare quotes from multiple insurance providers to find the best deal.

No matter how professional or careful you are as a massage therapist, the fact is, there are a lot of things out of your control. That’s why insurance is such a great safeguard to have for your business. From client injuries to equipment loss, it can protect you against a range of risks so you can focus on delivering a quality service.

If we had to give you one tip: don’t just take any policy. Evaluate your specific business needs and ensure that whatever you choose really is the correct coverage for your practice. Legal defence and compensation costs can be significant, and interrupted workflow can bring all sorts of surprises. It’s always best to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

Consistent with our policy when giving comment and advice on a non-specific basis, we cannot assume legal responsibility for the accuracy of any particular statement. In the case of specific problems, we recommend that professional advice be sought.