What Does AMTA Liability Insurance Cover?

While many massage therapists purchase insurance specifically for the professional liability insurance benefit it affords, the great news is that AMTA's massage insurance for Professional and Graduate members includes a broad set of coverages:

Read on to learn what each of these types of coverage entails. It is important to note that the descriptions below are all subject to the applicable limits of liability which can be found on the certificate of insurance, and are used to provide a general description of coverage types and examples. This is not a guarantee of coverage.

Professional Liability Coverage

If you are sued for malpractice, Professional Liability coverage protects you from the potentially devastating effects of a lawsuit. Sometimes, this type of coverage is also called medical malpractice insurance.

AMTA’s Professional Liability policy covers up to $2,000,000 per claim and up to $6,000,000 annual aggregate for all claims to satisfy any judgments against you for covered claims of malpractice.

AMTA does have a Master Policy aggregate limit of $10,000,000. This means that during any given policy period, which is one calendar year, the AMTA master policy will pay up to $10 million for claims that occur during that policy period.

Is Having a Policy Aggregate Bad?

In the 20 years that malpractice insurance has been an AMTA member benefit, we have never incurred calendar year combined losses totaling $10 million dollars. Having a master policy aggregate in place is a tool AMTA, HPSO, and our carrier partner, CNA, use to help ensure that we are able to provide the broadest coverage possible that meets our members’ needs. AMTA is consistently reviewing coverage limits and types to ensure that we are providing the benefits that best fit the needs of our members.

Good Samaritan Liability

Provides coverage for amounts that you become legally obligated to pay as a result of an act, error or omission in providing professional services as a Good Samaritan in a sudden, unforeseen emergency.

Personal Injury Liability

Provides coverage for claims arising from allegations of slander, libel, assault and battery, and other alleged personal injuries committed in the performance of your massage therapy services. This could include allegations of making false or damaging statements about a competitor or unfounded allegations of physically attacking a client.

Malplacement Liability

This coverage will pay for amounts you become legally obligated to pay as a result of an act, error or omission arising from your responsibilities for arranging and qualifying suitable work for other massage therapists. Coverage may apply in the event that a massage therapist you placed is alleged to be negligent or misrepresented their qualifications.  

License Protection

Maintaining your license is critical to your livelihood as a massage therapist. If a client files a complaint with the Licensing Board or to your state’s accrediting body, it may result in a settlement conference or administrative hearing.

AMTA’s Liability Insurance includes License Protection coverage which provides reimbursement of attorney fees you incur for the investigation and defense of complaints to the licensing authority alleging professional misconduct, incompetence or physical or mental incapacity.

Defendant Expense Benefit

If you are required by your insurance provider, or a defense attorney, to attend a trial, hearing or proceeding, the Defendant Expense Benefit provides reimbursement for travel, food, lodging and lost wages. The stress of your attendance at a hearing or trial may be somewhat mitigated by knowing you will receive reimbursement for certain covered expenses while you are unable to perform your massage therapy services.

Deposition Representation

If you receive a subpoena for documents or testimony arising from massage therapy services but are not named in a professional liability lawsuit, Deposition Representation Coverage will pay for a designated attorney to prepare you for the deposition.

Assault Coverage

This coverage will reimburse you for medical expenses and property damage expenses you incur in the event you are assaulted at your workplace or while going to and from your workplace. (Not available in Texas).

Medical Payments

This coverage pays for reimbursement of medical expenses if a client is accidentally injured at your residence or business premises.

First Aid

This benefit provides reimbursement for expenses you incur as a result of rendering emergency help to a sick or injured person until full medical treatment is available.

Communicable Diseases

There are no exclusions on your policy for communicable diseases. As with any claim where an exclusion does not exist, for AMTA members who comply with state, federal and facility guidelines, and are practicing legally in their state, coverage is available in their liability insurance policy.

Learn more about AMTA’s Liability Insurance and COVID-19  

Damage to Property of Others

If you accidentally damage someone else’s property, your policy pays for such damage if it occurred at your residence or workplace. This coverage may apply if you accidentally damage a client’s furniture while providing a massage at the clients home.

Health Information Privacy and Notification Costs

This coverage will pay for fines and penalties you become legally obligated to pay for errors in managing or transmitting protected health information of your clients, such as medical history or mental health conditions. It also provides reimbursement for costs related to notifying clients of a potential breach of confidential information.

General Liability Coverage

General Liability (GL) insurance coverage protects you for those amounts you become legally obligated to pay as a result of bodily injury or property damage arising from an accident, other than a massage therapy incident, at a location where you are providing massage therapy. It may also cover you if you are held liable for damages to property you rent or lease.

Here are some things GL insurance does not cover: damage to your personal property, employee injuries, auto accidents, workmanship, intentional acts, and professional mistakes (those are covered as Professional Liability claims). The General Liability limits of liability are included within and are part of the Professional Liability limits of liability.

Fire and Water Legal Liability

Provides up to $100,000 coverage for fire or water damage to property you rent or lease for providing massage therapy services.

Your personal property is not covered with Fire and Water Legal Liability. A separate, optional Business Insurance policy would cover your personal property. If you lease or own your own business property, you should consider adding a Business Insurance Policy.

Products Liability

Products Liability Coverage pays for amounts which you become legally obligated to pay for injury or damage caused by any massage therapy goods utilized by you while providing massage therapy services.

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