Massage Therapist Insurance

[Ronen Tal]

Hello HP users,
I am seeking advice on insurance companies for massage therapists, I have recently passed my courses and will be looking to start up soon so any advice given will be beneficial to me. Ones you may recommend or don't touch you know the sort thing.

Any information please or other advice given will be appreciated,

thank you,
Highlander

 

[fqiawrvo]

Hi Highlander. Personally I'd recommend Balens insurance. The service is good, friendly, and they're not too expensive (www.balen.co.uk)

 

[Stephenie]

I too am with Balens, have been since qualifying in 2002. I would also talk to your college - they sometimes have block / discount schemes.

Namaste
Mat

 

[step on me]

I'm pleased that you have both mentioned Balens as I have been with FHT for the past 10 years and am just about to go with Balens.

I'm going to be doing an auricular acupuncture course in September and the FHT will charge me an extra £80 to cover me for this on top of the £100 to be a member and insured.

I had been told by someone to apply to Balens as they have block cover with the auricular acupuncture organisation.

I have quite a lot of qualifications and am just waiting to hear from Balens that I will be covered, have either of you had any problems covering all of your courses?

Another good thing about Balens is that they cover you for being a tutor, which FHT have a premium on if you declare it.

 

[Wally West]

hi,
whats the advantage and disadvantage of being a member of a group and getting insurance or being with a solo company like Balens, in your opinions?

 

[Wadewocks]

Balens is a big enterprise, which is why they can keep their premiums down. They also cover alot of the various associations with 'block' insurance. I'm with a company called Shephards, who cover all sorts of different things - not just therapies - I changed after my training school scheme upped my premium to nearly £200 when I did an advanced course not run by them!

 

[Denis Dautovski]

thanks for the reply, now i have more questions. whats the difference between Professional Indemnity and Public Liability?
Im starting out doing swedish body massage and loking to add to that as time goes by but for now im just looking for cover for that, does one insurance policy cover both PI and PL? or do you have to purchase them seperate?
Thanks in advance Phill

 

[Wayne]

I've just asked 'him indoors' as he is in the insurance business.
Public Liability is generally included in buildings and contents insurance as it insures 'one' against any claim by members of the public should they sustain an injury whilst being on your 'property'. Any business being run from home may require specific business insurance to cover this.
Professional Indemnity can be taken out by anyone to cover their business activities, and is a good thing to have should (heaven forbid) a client decide that any treatment received has caused injury, been dangerous, been neglegent..... the amount of coverage (generally around a million pounds) should be enough to cover legal fees for defence purposes and damages payable.
Both are really a safety net, in case anything goes wrong!

 

[Taummarer]

Hi Pjay & Jabba,

You can normally buy an insurance policy that covers both Professional Indemnity and public liability together with a few other types of cover these days.

Regarding public liability at home - this is covered under a standard household policy, HOWEVER if you do any work from home, then you would need to tell your home insurance company as they will often not allow you to do this - there are a few companies out there that do what i think is called a 'homeworkers' policy, which is basically a home insurance poilicy but it allows you to work from home (as the title suggests!)

Not many companies do this, however when buying your professional/public liability insurance, I would suggest asking them if they offer this cover as well, as they are quite likely to either do it themselves, or know someone who will.

Hope this helps!