Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/230373
WHAT ARE YOUR RISKS? "But I Only Work on a Few Clients and Friends" Not having professional liability insurance, even if you only work on a few clients and friends, can be a career-ending mistake. Yes, it's rare to have friends sue friends, but it does happen. Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) member Anna can attest to that. After providing massage to a close friend, the friend filed a claim against Anna, alleging a severe back injury that directly led to a herniated disc and an inability to work. A long, arduous lawsuit ensued, with the plaintiff demanding $375,000. More than five years after the initial claim was made, and shortly before the lawsuit was scheduled to go to trial, the claim was settled for more than $200,000. Luckily, Anna's liability insurance with ABMP covered her from beginning to end. Without insurance coverage, Anna says, "I can only guess I would be in debt for the rest of my life and perhaps not be able to live independently. My life goals would be crushed." Anna never thought she would have to take advantage of the coverage ABMP provides her, and she never thought a friend would sue her. But situations and relationships change, and you can never plan for the unforeseeable. As Anna tells colleagues, "Why would you compromise your practice, and life, by not having liability insurance?" Professional liability protects you from the unexpected, even if that means saving you from the unimaginable—a friend who is hurt by your work and sues you. How Does the Aggregate Work? An insurance policy's aggregate is typically defi ned as the total coverage limit allowed under your policy. There are two ways this aggregate can be distributed: individual (per member, per year) or shared (also called universal). Make sure your policy has an individual aggregate. Under a shared aggregate, you must share the coverage limit with all of the insurance provider's other policyholders, effectively reducing the amount available to you personally. ABMP has the highest individual aggregate coverages available—$2 million per occurrence, and $6 million aggregate (per member, per year) for professional, general, and product liability. Other Points to Consider While the previous questions are the crucial ones when researching insurance options, don't forget the smaller details. Does the company charge for additional insured endorsements (AIEs), which are often required by your landlord or employer? Many do. Is there legal defense coverage for covered losses? Are those legal costs included in your aggregate, or are they paid in addition to (above and beyond) your aggregate limits? Does the provider cover all the modalities you offer? For example, hot stone massage is excluded from many professional liability policies because of the risk of burning clients. Preventing injury and ensuring safety is fi rst and foremost what MTs should be doing for their clients; having protection for when things go awry is fi rst and foremost what therapists should be doing for themselves. "You may never use your insurance," Kimpel advises her colleagues. "But it should be the most important step of starting a business." Karrie Osborn is senior editor for Massage & Bodywork magazine. Contact her at karrie@abmp.com. It pays to be ABMP Certified: www.abmp.com/go/certifiedcentral 97