Best Massage Liability Insurance
Complete Guide and Comparison (2024)

If you work with clients as a massage therapist or student, it’s a good idea to have massage liability insurance. Every service professional that works with the public, especially those that work in health and wellness, has the potential to face a lawsuit. Massage liability insurance pays for covered claims and legal defense if a client decides to sue their therapist for a loss due to injury from malpractice, negligence or other cause. Fortunately, since the risk of causing major injury to someone else with massage and bodywork is fairly low, the cost of massage liability insurance is relatively affordable for massage businesses, therapists and students. This article compares the costs and benefits of several of the best massage liability insurance companies and policies.

What is massage liability insurance? Massage liability insurance is an insurance policy that is specifically designed to protect massage therapists from claims initiated by their clients. It typically includes Professional Liability Insurance (PLI), General Liability Insurance, and Product Liability Insurance. Massage insurance providers often include additional benefits with their policies such as industry discounts, continuing education hours, and other optional coverages.

The table below provides a comparison of massage liability insurance offered by: Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), Massage Magazine Insurance Plus (MMIP), American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), Beauty & Bodywork Insurance (BBI), Hands On Trade, and American Massage Council (AMC). Also in this article is a brief summary of each of these massage insurance companies and what they cost and offer, as well as a description of what professional massage liability insurance typically covers, and a glossary of insurance terminology. You can find the answers to frequently asked questions about massage business insurance at the bottom of this resource.

Massage Liability Insurance Comparison (2024)

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Best Massage Insurance Companies

There are many insurance companies that offer massage liability insurance and massage business insurance. Here are some of the cheapest and best insurance companies and a brief review and summary of the benefits that they have to offer massage therapists and massage students. The cost of these insurance policies ranges from $96 to $235 per year, and can be higher in some cases if you choose the additional coverage that some companies offer.

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP)

ABMP offers two levels of membership for practicing massage therapists that include comprehensive liability insurance. Their Professional level is $199 for 1 year, and their Certified level is $229 for one year. Both membership levels provide the same liability insurance as well as free CE hours, a subscription to Massage & Bodywork magazine, discounts at various massage resource suppliers, and learning resources. The Certified level membership offers access to additional continuing education courses, bigger discounts on massage supplies, and a monthly payment option of $20/month (which brings the total to $240/year). Liability insurance through ABMP protects you no matter how many places you work, where you work, or whether you are an employee or self-employed. ABMP also offers student liability insurance for $15 and is valid for 12 months or until completion of training, whichever comes first.

Benefits of ABMP liability insurance for massage therapists:

• Professional Liability Insurance coverage: $2 million per incident, $6 million total per policy year
• General Liability Insurance coverage: $2 million per incident, $6 million total per policy year (this includes fire and water legal liability, and products liability)
• 200+ free CE webinars (Professional members), and an additional 400+ free CE hours (Certified members)
• Subscription to Massage & Bodywork magazine
• Listing on MassageTherapy.com referral service
• Member discounts from industry suppliers
• Legal defense coverage (for covered losses)
• Additional insured endorsement at no charge
• Optional Business Personal Property Insurance to cover equipment
• Requirements:
  • Must be in compliance with your state’s requirements
  • Must be able to verify training and licensing
  • Insurance can usually be effective by the following day if everything is in order

Visit the ABMP website to find out more about their massage therapy liability insurance.

Massage Magazine Insurance Plus (MMIP)

MMIP offers several options for massage therapists to purchase liability insurance. Their standard 1-year policy has an annual fee of $169. They also offer a 2-year policy for $289 (15% discount). MMIP is the only insurance company covered in this comparison that offers a policy specifically for part-time massage therapists ($149/year). Monthly payment plans are available for 1-year policy, 2-year policy, and part-time rate policy. Insurance through MMIP covers over 450 types of massage and bodywork, including hot stone massage as well as vacuum cupping and fire cupping (no extra charge). MMIP liability insurance is occurrence-form (best type of liability insurance) of coverage which means that it covers incidents that occur during the policy period, even if the claim is not filed until after the policy ends.

Massage Magazine Insurance Plus also offers student liability insurance for $40. Massage therapy students should strongly consider getting their own liability insurance, even if their school has insurance because many school insurance policies do not cover students.

Highlights and benefits of MMIP massage liability insurance:

• Professional Liability Insurance: $2 million per incident, $3 million total per policy year
• General Liability Insurance: $2 million per incident, $3 million total per policy year
• No requirements to get started or renew a policy
• Immediate coverage
• Over $1,800 in Industry Discounts
• Identity Protection Plan included for free
• Add additional businesses starting at $10
• >55 hours of free online continuing education courses approved through NCBTMB
• Additional coverage included at no extra charge:
  • Stolen equipment protection $1,000 ($250 deductible)
  • Identity protection $25,000

Find out more about massage insurance offered by Massage Magazine here.

American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA)

The American Massage Therapy Association is another organization that offers comprehensive insurance policies for massage professionals. AMTA also has one of the best and most affordable (free) liability insurance options for massage students. Massage practitioners can get a 1-year comprehensive liability insurance policy (professional liability, general liability, and product liability) for $235. This makes AMTA one of the more expensive providers, however they do offer offer additional value by having one of the highest annual aggregate limits, and they provide continuing education discounts. AMTA offers 1st year graduates a discounted rate of $89 for their first year of coverage.

Something unique to the liability insurance offered through AMTA is that they have a $10 million shared aggregate limit. Which could potentially affect your coverage if there are other large claims or many smaller claims during your policy period. Since their liability insurance and membership in the AMTA association is provided together, they do have qualification and renewal requirements. Professional members must have graduated from a massage therapy school with a minimum of 500 in-class hours, or be currently licensed or certified by NCBTMB. Students must be enrolled in a 500 in-class hour (minimum) supervised entry-level massage therapy program.

Highlights and benefits of AMTA liability insurance for members (policyholders):

• Professional Liability Insurance: $2 million per incident, $6 million individual aggregate per policy year ($10 million shared limit)
• General Liability Insurance: $2 million per incident, $6 million individual aggregate per policy year
• AMTA includes a broad set of coverage with their Professional Liability Insurance: Good Samaritan Liability; Personal Injury Liability; Malplacement Liability; License Protection; Defendant Expense Benefit; Deposition Representation; Assault Coverage (excluding Texas); Medical Payments; First Aid; Communicable Diseases; Damage to Property of Others; Health Information Privacy and Notification Costs
• Their General Liability Coverage includes Fire and Water Legal Liability
• Includes dual coverage for therapists who are also yoga instructors and/or estheticians
• Hot stone massage is covered in their policy
• CNA is the insurance provider (carrier) for AMTA liability insurance

Visit the AMTA website to find out more about massage liability insurance for practicing therapists and students.

Beauty and Bodywork Insurance (BBI)

Beauty and Bodywork Insurance offers the lowest rate for massage liability insurance, at $96 for a 1-year policy. However, their student liability insurance is one of the most expensive at $67 per year. BBI does not offer many of the additional benefits (e.g. free CE hours, industry discounts) like some of the other providers do. They also use the Claims-Made type of liability insurance which means that claims filed after the policy period or approved extension ends will be denied (the occurrence-form is the preferred type of insurance). Aqua therapy, cryotherapy and the use of electrical or mechanical devices for massage therapy are not covered. Cupping therapy coverage is available for additional $35 per year.

Additional benefits of BBI (Insure Bodywork) liability insurance:

• Professional Liability Insurance coverage of $2 million per incident, $3 million individual aggregate
• General Liability Insurance coverage: $2 million per incident, $3 million individual aggregate
• Products liability of $3 million aggregate. This coverage applies to products used at time of service. It does not cover any products that are being resold or created by you.
• Coverage for hot stone massage is included at no extra charge
• No quote process. Get immediate coverage
• BBI coverage is provided through the Great American Alliance Insurance Company, an A+ rated carrier

Find out more about Beauty and Bodywork Insurance insurance at InsureBodywork.com.

Hands On Trade Association

Hands On Trade offers a 1-year massage insurance policy for $165. They also offer a student insurance policy for $75 that is upgraded to a professional therapist policy for free if the student graduates before the policy ends. This student policy however is the most expensive out of the 5 companies reviewed in this comparison which offer student insurance. There are no requirements for initial qualification or to renew a policy.

Benefits and details of Hands On Trade liability insurance for LMTs:

• Professional Liability Insurance coverage of $2 million per occurrence
• General Liability Insurance coverage: $2 million per incident, $3 million individual aggregate
• Products liability of $2 million annual aggregate
• Premises Insurance $100k/year
• *T-bars are excluded from coverage
• Hands On Trade liability insurance is provided by PayneWest Insurance Agency, and underwritten by Evanston Insurance Co.

Learn more about Hands On Trade and their massage liability insurance here.

American Massage Council (AMC)

American Massage Council offers the second most affordable massage liability insurance reviewed in this comparison, at $99 for a 1-year policy. For additional $10, massage therapists can get increased professional liability and general liability coverage (see list below). Requirements to get initial insurance and to renew a policy are an active & current massage license. Rental property coverage is not included with AMC’s policy.

Other benefits for American Massage Council insurance policyholders:

• AMC’s $99 policy provides professional liability and general liability coverage of $1 million per occurrence and $3 million annual aggregate
• Their $109 policy increases this coverage to $2 million per occurrence and $6 million annual aggregate
• Both 1-year policies provide product liability insurance with a $2 million individual annual aggregate
• Optional Coverages:
  • Additional Insured can be named on your policy for +$10
  • Premises Liability
  • Business personal property which provides $10,000 coverage ($500 deductible) can be added for +$103.20
  • Hot stone massage coverage can be added for +$25 (addendum required)

See the American Massage Council (AMC) website for more info about their liability insurance.

What does massage liability insurance cover?

The coverage that massage liability insurance provides to a practitioner varies depending on the carrier and the individual policy. The primary types of liability or risk that massage therapists and massage businesses are exposed to are covered by the three main types of liability insurance: professional liability, general liability, and product liability. All of the companies compared in this review include these three as components of their policies. Here are some additional things that may be covered by massage liability insurance:

• Defense Counsel. If a claim is filed against you and is covered by the policy, this provides a lawyer for you with experience in medical malpractice. It also pays for related defense costs such as lawyer fees, court fees, and expert witness costs.
• Sexual Misconduct/Abuse. This provides counsel to represent you in the event that (non-criminal) allegations of sexual misconduct are made against you. It also pays for defense costs unless or until the sexual misconduct or abuse is determined to have occurred.
• License Protection is included with some professional liability policies. It provides reimbursement of attorney fees incurred during the investigation and defense of complaints to a licensing authority in the event of a client alleging professional misconduct or incompetence.
• Good Samaritan Liability provides coverage in the event of a lawsuit resulting from a massage therapist providing services as a Good Samaritan in an emergency.
• Personal Injury Liability provides coverage for the policyholder in the event of allegations of personal injury, assault and battery, slander or libel committed while providing massage services or in during normal business operations.
• Medical Payments coverage reimburses medical expenses if a client is accidentally injured at your place of business.
• First Aid coverage is a benefit that reimburses expenses incurred as a result of rendering emergency assistance to a sick or injured person until appropriate medical personal are available and can take over.
• Damage to Property of Others is a common component of liability insurance, and covers accidental damage to someone else’s property during the course of normal operations. This can include coverage at your massage office, your home, a client’s home or a client’s business for therapists who offer mobile massage services. Examples include damage to a client’s clothing, furniture, jewelry, etc.

Massage Insurance Terms Defined

Aggregate Limit

The maximum amount that the carrier will pay for all claims arising from incidents that occurred and were reported during a given policy year, no matter how many claims arise during its term. Most massage liability insurance policies have an annual aggregate limit between $3 million and $6 million. 

Claim

An insurance claim is a formal request by an insurance policyholder to the insurance company for coverage or compensation for a loss or event that is covered by the policy. Examples of claims against a massage therapist that are potentially covered by liability insurance include client injuries such as a burn from hot stones, aggravation of previous injuries, excessive bruising, or stroke caused by mobilizing a blood clot during deep tissue massage. The insurance company may approve or deny the claim. If the claim is approved, the insurance company will issue payment to cover the claim.

Claims-Made Coverage

A type of liability insurance that only covers a claim if it is made during the policy period or approved reporting period. A claim will not be covered if it is filed after the policy ends, even if the actual event occurred during the policy period. This can cause problems since a client may not file a claim in a timely manner. The preferred type of insurance is occurrence-based (see definition below).

Coverage

Insurance coverage is the amount of liability that is provided to an insured individual or entity by the insurance company.

Declaration Page

The part of the insurance policy that discloses the terms of the policy, and states information such as the name and address of the insured, the policy period, the amount of coverage, premiums due for the policy period, and any coverage restrictions.

Deductible

The amount of the insured loss (in dollars) that is paid by the policyholder.

Endorsement

An endorsement is an amendment or rider to a policy that adjusts the coverages and takes precedence over the general contract. An example is an endorsement for hot stone massage or cupping therapy if it is not covered in the main liability policy.

General Liability Insurance

General liability (GL) insurance covers bodily injury or property damage due to an accident (other than a massage-related incident) at the location where massage therapy is being provided. It is also referred to as “slip and fall insurance” and covers a wide range of events. General liability insurance does not cover things such as damage to personal property, auto accidents, professional mistakes, intentional acts or employee injuries. Examples of claims against a massage therapist that are typically covered by professional liability insurance include:

• A client slips on a tile floor due to some spilled massage oil that occurred earlier and had not been adequately cleaned.
• A floor lamp gets knocked over and hits a client, resulting in a laceration that required medical treatment.

Indemnity

Indemnity is the legal principle that specifies an insured policyholder should not collect more than the actual cash value of a loss, but should be restored to approximately the same financial position that existed before the loss occurred.

Insurance Policy

An insurance policy is a written contract (legal document) between you and your insurer that provides details about insurance coverage for an ensured entity for a particular risk. It is essentially an agreement between you and your insurance company that lays out what’s covered and what isn’t, and it contains other details of your agreement. A typical insurance policy includes: 

• Insurance policy number
• How long you’re covered for (policy period)
• Cost of your coverage (policy premium)
• Your deductible(s)
• The dollar amount of coverage
• What’s covered under your policy
• Things that are excluded from coverage
• Definitions of insurance terms used in the policy

Insured

The individual, group or entity that is covered by an insurance policy.

Insurer

Any corporation or agency engaged primarily in the business of furnishing insurance to the public. The party to the insurance contract who promises to pay for covered losses or benefits.

Liability

A liability is any legally enforceable obligation.

Limits of Liability

This is the total amount of coverage you purchase by paying your premium. In other words, it is the amount of money available under the policy to pay for any sort of losses that you may incur because of a situation anticipated and covered by the policy. 

Malpractice

Protection against claims of negligence or mistakes which cause harm to a client. This could include things like bodily injury cause by the massage, or giving wrong advice, or not delivering what was agreed upon.

Negligence

Considered and act of omission in which the treatment provided falls below the standard of care, resulting in injury or harm to the client or patient.

Occurrence Based Policy

Occurrence-Based insurance policies cover claims from incidents that occur during the policy period, even if the claim is filed after the policy has expired. Occurrence based insurance is the preferred type of policy because it does not rely on a client filing a claim in a timely manner.

Per Occurrence Limit

Also called per claim limit, this is the maximum amount of coverage available for each individual claim under the policy during its term.

Policy Period

The time between the start and end of an insurance policy. Also called coverage period or policy term.

Premium

The cost of the insurance policy.

Product Liability Insurance

Product liability coverage protects the therapist if a client has an adverse reaction, such as an allergic reaction, to a product. Massage therapists commonly use products such as essential oils, lubricants, balms, liniments, herbs, and disinfectants which can potentially cause an adverse event, sometimes even severe, life-threatening events. The adhesive on various taping products such as kinesiotape can also cause a reaction in people who are sensitive to adhesives.

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional liability insurance (PLI), also called malpractice insurance or errors and omissions (E&O), protects a service professional such as a massage therapist, doctor, lawyer or accountant against lawsuits, and pays for damages if they arise. Professional liability insurance can protect a massage therapist against claims from causes such as malpractice, negligence or misrepresentation. Massage therapists and students need PLI because these types of claims are not covered by general liability insurance. Examples of claims against a massage therapist that are typically covered by professional liability insurance include:

• A client sustains a burn during a hot stone massage, or when using a hot pack.
• Joint dislocation (e.g. hip or shoulder joint) that occurs during passive ROM or assisted stretching.
• Soft tissue damage from overly aggressive deep tissue massage.

Risk

Risk is defined as the possibility of suffering harm or loss. Massage therapy is a relatively low-risk therapeutic treatment, but there is still a risk of client injury and a risk of a massage therapist facing a lawsuit. 

Risk Management

The process of identifying the risks associated with certain activities and then developing strategies to reduce these risks to an acceptable level. For example, a massage therapist may identify several risks associated with working with clients in a special population such as medically compromised or geriatric clients. Or the therapist could identify risks associated with providing a certain type of massage such as deep tissue massage or hot stone massage. These risks typically involve the risk of injury to a client, which could be followed by the risk of a malpractice lawsuit. A risk management strategy for a massage therapist could include: receiving specialized training, advanced certification, getting malpractice insurance, having clients complete a health history form, conducting a thorough client assessment, requiring a client to get medical clearance from their physician, structuring their massage business as an LLC (limited liability company), or having the client sign an informed consent form and liability waiver or release.

Waiver

An agreement attached to an insurance policy which exempts from coverage certain disabilities or injuries that otherwise would be covered by the policy.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Massage Insurance

Why do I need massage liability insurance?

Massage liability insurance is required by many businesses if you work as an employee or an independent contractor. If you are not required by an employer or if are self-employed, it is still a good idea to always have massage liability insurance when working with clients. Even skilled and experienced therapists can make mistakes, or be accused of doing something that resulted in harm to a client. Liability insurance covers the amount that you could be legally obligated to pay should there be a claim against you for a covered incident. For massage therapists, liability insurance is relatively affordable, especially when compared to a lawsuit that could easily cost thousands of dollars.

Does a liability waiver protect a massage therapist from a lawsuit?

A liability waiver, also called a release form, is a legally binding document that requires a client to acknowledge and agree to accept certain risks related to the services provided. By signing the waiver, the client waives the massage therapist’s or company’s liability for damages associated with these inherent risks. This can insulate the therapist and business from civil damages if the client suffers losses or injuries. There are limits to this protection however. A liability waiver will not protect a massage therapist if a client is injured due to malpractice or negligence.

What factors should a massage therapist consider when researching liability insurance companies?

• Covered modalities. Make sure it includes the types of massage and bodywork services that you provide.
• Amount of coverage.
• Types of insurance. Many companies also include general liability and product liability coverage. Make sure the policy will include the coverage that you need.
• Customer support. Choose a company that provides you the level of support that you need.
• Additional useful benefits like free continuing education courses, magazine subscription, and discounts from other vendors.
• Stability of the company.
• Cost. If everything else is equal, then cost is the last consideration. A $30 price difference is insignificant if it’s between purchasing a good policy from a reputable company or purchasing from a company that may not provide protection when you need it. Think of it like this, you wouldn’t want to buy the cheapest seatbelt on the market.

What other types of insurance coverage should massage therapists consider getting in addition to liability insurance?

Workers compensation insurance which pays the medical costs of personal injuries sustained during work.
Disability insurance to pay a monthly benefit if you become disabled and unable to work (e.g. injury to hands or back)
Commercial auto insurance to protect your business if you offer mobile massage or otherwise use your car for work. It also protects a company vehicle if involved in a collision, or if it is stolen or vandalized.
Business interruption insurance provides protection for the loss of revenue and coverage of continued fixed expenses (e.g. rent, utilities, business loan payments) that results from a temporary business closure. This disruption of business could be caused by damage from a flood, hurricane, earthquake or fire. Or other causes such as a pandemic and mandatory business shutdown.

How do I buy massage liability insurance?

Buying a massage liability insurance policy is a pretty straightforward process and can be done in three simple steps:

1. Determine what coverage you need. Consider the types of massage and bodywork that you intend to provide for your clients.
2. Compare insurance companies and policies. The cost of a liability insurance policy is only one factor to consider. Sometimes the cheapest rate is appealing, but may not be the best option in the long run. Be sure to look at the provider’s reputation, stability, customer service, amount and type of coverage, exclusions, and other benefits of choosing the company.
3. Contact the insurance company and purchase a policy. Some companies allow you to apply completely online and give immediate coverage, while others may require additional documentation and approval.