Why do sports massage therapists need insurance?
Every sports massage therapist faces some level of risk of being accused by their clients of causing an injury, property damage or professional misconduct (giving the wrong advice, incorrect treatment or similar).
Claims you did more damage than good
Your client claims the sports massage therapy didn't yield the expected benefits or accuses you of causing them an injury by being negligent - you might be facing a demand for financial compensation.
Accidental client injury
Falling off a table or tripping over a towel are accidents, and some lead to compensation claims.
Accusation of inappropriate conduct
Getting close and personal is your job, but a gesture or something you say could be easily misunderstood.
Failing your duty of care
A client says you failed to establish their pre-existing medical condition and proceeded with incorrect treatment.
Public liability insurance for sports massage therapists
Public liability insurance covers risks associated with face-to-face work.
Sports massage therapists meet members of the public and are in constant physical contact with clients; this means there is always a risk of accidents.
What does sports massage therapy public liability insurance cover?
Public liability provides sports massage therapists with legal defence and covers a possible payout if you're found liable for property damage or causing an injury.
Cover includes:
- accidental injury or death
- accidental property damage
For example:
- A client who visits your premises gets injured in a slip or fall and is demanding that you pay compensation.
- During your visit to a client's home, an accident occurs and you’re blamed for the consequences which could be property damage or an injury.
Professional indemnity insurance for sports massage therapists
Professional indemnity insurance defends your professional conduct and advice.
Many people seek sports massage treatment as a way of managing their injury. If your treatment or advice worsens the issue, you may be accused of aggravating it.
An unhappy client may request their money back or give a bad online review. However, they may also engage a lawyer to sue you to seek an expensive compensation payment.
What does sports massage therapy professional indemnity insurance cover?
Professional indemnity insurance protects sports massage therapists from claims or accusations of wrongdoing from their professional advice.
Cover includes:
- Failing your duty of care
- Making a mistake
- Acting negligently
- Giving the wrong advice or recommendation
For example, you may be facing financial demands from a client because:
- Your treatment caused an injury
- Your advice made an existing injury worse
- You client accuses you of inappropriate conduct
What professional indemnity limit do sports massage therapists need?
The professional indemnity limit you need depends on your situation. When choosing a limit, consider several factors: Does the venue you work at require a specific limit? How often do you massage? How many clients do you have? How much could it cost if your massage goes wrong? Generally, more complex massage businesses require higher limits.
Switching your professional indemnity insurance
Usually, when you cancel or switch your professional indemnity policy in the UK, you can no longer make claims against the previous policy.
If you change provider, ensure your past work is covered by including what is called “retroactive cover”.
Should I keep professional indemnity insurance if I stop providing sports massage therapy?
It’s wise to keep your professional indemnity if you pause or stop your sports massage therapy activities. Claims against professional misconduct can surface months or years after you do the work.
Remember: If you cancel your policy, your insurance coverage will end, including coverage for any previous work.
How long you keep your cover in place is up to you; consider the type of massage you did and the likelihood that a client might bring a claim against you.
Tips for sports massage therapists
If you have public liability and professional indemnity insurance, sports massage therapists can feel safer in difficult client circumstances. Still, you can minimise the risk further and protect yourself with the following steps:
- Before treating a client for the first time, quiz them thoroughly, ideally in writing, about their current state of health, allergies, and why they're seeking your a sports massage.
- Make notes, explain to the client what you'll be doing, why and the limitations of the treatment. Ensure the client is comfortable with your approach.
- Keep checking in with the client during the treatment to ensure you're not causing pain or discomfort.
- Don't be afraid to say no. If your professional instinct tells you the client may not be the best candidate for your services or the client needs expertise exceeding your qualifications, refund them their money and let them go.
Shopping for sports massage therapist insurance
Whether or not you decide to use Suited massage therapist insurance to protect your business, it’s worth keeping the following in mind:
Cheap sports massage therapist insurance
When thinking about buying insurance for massage therapists, while a competitive price is always welcome, don't choose a product just because it's cheap. When the price is too low, you'll need to take extra care to read the small print, especially what is excluded and what would happen if you had a claim.
The insurer's reputation is important
Insurance needs to be there when you need it most. The payout reputation of an insurer is essential. Suited uses financially sound insurers with an A+ rating.
Many providers charge fees to amend or cancel
Low initial prices often hide additional charges to pay monthly, amend or cancel your policy. At Suited, we charge no extra fees, and you can cancel anytime with no more to pay.
Some policy wordings are restrictive or have a high excess
Some providers will offer attractive prices, but it is at the expense of cover given. Suited professional indemnity and public liability have £0 excess.
