Is There Really A Need For Massage Therapy Liability Insurance?

Do professional massage therapists really need liability insurance? That would come under the category of professional liability coverage and the answer is yes, indeed, they do - and it would be called massage therapy liability insurance.

Massage therapists can operate as private contractors, going to the residences and offices of their clients. Some work as part of a medical practice - in conjunction with, for example, a pain management specialist or orthopedic surgeon. Massage therapy can be a very important component of physical therapy and the patient's overall treatment plan.

Many health insurance policies also cover massage therapy as a benefit, so it would be a good idea to become quite familiar with this aspect of insurance from the standpoint of the provider. You will also want to familiarize yourself with potential liability issues as they pertain to malpractice insurance.

As with any insurance issue, obtaining a quote from more than one liability provider is a good idea. Never go with the one and only quote you've obtained and don't be afraid to seek the best deal you can get for your dollar.

What are some of the potential risks that you run as a professional massage therapist? One that comes to mind is a client falling off the massage table - right there you have a claim for damages due to defective table or errors and omissions on the part of the massage therapist.

It is also possible that malpractice suits could be brought against you if the client were to experience harm because of your treatment; for example, if you accidentally caused a muscle strain or even a bruise. This would be something not often seen, but the potential for accidents is always present.

A recent phenomenon that is seen in airports and even shopping malls is the massage chair - we have all seen them, where the client sits down with their face in a sort of head rest and arms propped on short arm rests and the massage therapist does a limited session of massage right there and then. The potential for liability is present in these locations as well as an office; the client could fall off the chair, trip over a rug, etc.

As you can see, the question of professional liability exists even in massage therapy. And how would you answer the question posed at the beginning of this article? I would say yes, there is a definite need for massage therapy liability insurance, even though the chance of a claim being filed is slim - if the chance exists, so should a liability policy.