Yes, we would highly recommend having insurance as a massage therapist. Although some areas may not legally require that massage therapists have insurance, you assume total risk without it. Additionally, many franchises and spas will require that job candidates have massage therapy insurance before hiring or contracting with them. Beyond that, there are inherent risks involved with working on the human body. There’s always a chance someone might react negatively to the services or products you use.

However, independently contracted or employed therapists aren’t the only ones who should be insured. If you are a mobile or self-employed massage therapist, it’s crucial you protect yourself from lawsuits since your personal financial assets may be at risk if you were sued.

In the event of a lawsuit, you may have to pay legal costs to defend yourself even if you’re not found liable. Without insurance coverage, you may be responsible for paying all claims-related costs out-of-pocket.

Because there are so many different types of massage therapy out there, BBI covers a wide variety of massages, including:

• Deep tissue massage
• Swedish massage
• Chair massage
• Hot stone massage
• Animal massage
• Sports massage
• Thai massage

At Beauty & Bodywork Insurance (BBI) we offer one price for professionals ($96) and one price for massage therapy students ($67). There are several factors that may affect the total cost of your massage liability insurance policy. Some examples include:

• The types of modalities you provide
• How many additional insureds you need to add
• The coverage limits you select
• and more

Please note that if your services include any of the excluded methods listed on our site, you will not qualify for coverage under these prices. BBI does not offer monthly payments for massage liability insurance.

When researching insurance, it’s important to look at what coverages the policy you’re seeking offers. For example, does the policy cover general, professional, and/or products liability insurance? This is extremely useful when comparing prices.

You’ll also want to keep in mind certain coverages and endorsements that are offered with a policy—purchasing cheap massage insurance isn’t always the way to go because it most likely won’t have all the coverage you need.

Here is a list of considerations to think about so you make sure it is a good fit for you!

1. If you are being required to purchase insurance for your salon, make sure they have the right general liability limit.
2. Make sure that you can add Additional Insureds to your policy. Even for a small fee, your employers or landlords may require it.
3. Check the payment options. Our plan is a one-time, annual fee for $96 per year. You have options to add to your policy to include extra endorsements at any time.
4. Make sure you opt into EZ Renew or are prepared to renew each year, to keep your coverage valid.

You can also view our comparison chart to see how BBI compares to other insurance providers.

No matter how hard you work to avoid a claim—there is always a chance for an accident. By being an insured massage therapist, you can help reduce your financial risks while working with customers. Some common massage therapy claims to be aware of, include:

• A massage therapy table breaks while a client is on it during their session causing injury and a legal complaint.
• An oil or cream causing a rash or an allergic reaction is used, and your customer decides to pursue legal action.
• Bruising or infection on clients after the massage that they feel you are culpable for causing and bring up a suit against you.
• Blood clots take place after a massage (This is most common with clients who might be at increased risk of injury, or elderly people.)
• A client slips and falls on company property and sustains an injury. You can be at fault for not having proper signage or an alternative route.
• As a massage therapist, you could be held liable for any of the claims mentioned above and many other types of injuries or accidents arising from your business.