Yes, Pilates instructors need insurance. Why? Because legal claims are a major pain, not a minor ache.
Pilates may be low-impact, making it safer than other forms of exercise. But that doesn’t mean there are no dangers. And when equipment’s involved, there’s always a risk of injury.
If an injury means hospital treatment and time off work for your student, you could find yourself facing a claim. Whether there are grounds for it, or not.
Now, fighting a legal claim won’t just stretch you financially, it’ll cause you a whole heap of stress.
So why risk your wellbeing? Liability insurance can protect you from claims you were negligent, caused injury to someone, or damaged their property. Even if the claim’s groundless, you’ll get an attorney to defend you, your legal expenses paid, and compensation, too, if it’s due.
Pilates instructor insurance. Think of it as a resistance band. It’s there to support you and take away the tension while you stay graceful and balanced.
What insurance policies do pilates instructors need?
You might teach basic, intermediate, or advanced techniques to groups or individuals. You might own a studio, coach at a gym or wellness center. Wherever you teach Pilates, and no matter what level, two policies are essential:
- General liability insurance (covers personal injury and property damage)
- Professional liability insurance (covers mistakes and student complaints).
Depending on the way you run your business, there are other policies you might want too:
- Workers’ compensation insurance (covers employee illness or injury)
- Business personal property insurance (covers portable equipment)
- Cyber insurance (covers cyber fraud, hacks and data breaches).
General liability insurance for Pilates teachers
However careful you are, accidents happen. What if a student trips over a piece of your apparatus? If he needs hospital treatment and can’t work as a result, he could sue you to recoup his medical bills and lost wages.
Without general liability insurance, that’s going to cost you. A lot. And if the case goes to court, there’ll be legal fees to pay, plus compensation if you’re found at fault.
What’s more, while you’re busy fighting your corner, who’s teaching your classes? You could lose tuition fees and students, too, if the case drags on.
If a client claims you caused them injury or damaged their property, general liability insurance takes care of the expense. It can pay for medical bills and repairs or replacement costs as well as your legal fees. It can even cover compensation, if it’s awarded, too.
What does general liability insurance cover?
General liability insurance covers:
- Claims of accidental damage caused to someone or their property (including fire damage at premises you rent)
- The cost of medical treatment, legal defense fees, and compensation if it’s due (regardless of fault)
- Claims made worldwide – as long as they’re registered in the US or a US territory.
What’s more, while a claim’s being settled you get up to $250 a day to help with expenses and lost income.
General liability insurance doesn’t cover claims arising from your pilates teaching. That’s what professional liability insurance is for.
Professional liability insurance for pilates instructors
Professional liability insurance (also called errors and omissions insurance, or E&O) is a must-have for Pilates instructors. That’s because students can sue you for negligence if they think you made a mistake or did something wrong. Even if there are no grounds for the case.
Of course, you teach your students body awareness. But all it takes is for someone to strain a muscle or pull a ligament for problems to start. And if that problem means time off work…guess who’s going to get the blame?
Say you’ve been giving private Pilates instruction to a busy executive. Not satisfied with his progress, he asks for more frequent sessions but is soon complaining of back pain. Next thing you know he’s filed a lawsuit against you. He’s been forced to take time off work to recover, he says, and claims the pain is your fault.
Now you have to defend yourself. Your professional reputation is on the line. But without professional liability insurance, you’ll have to find the cash to pay for your legal defense. And if the case doesn’t go your way, for compensation, too.
A professional liability policy acts as a cushion. If you find yourself facing a claim as a result of your instruction, it protects you from the expense and stress of a lawsuit. Whether you’re at fault, or not.
What does professional liability insurance cover?
As long as you have a valid license or certificate, it covers you, your employee, intern, or volunteer, for claims of:
- Bodily injury caused by your teaching
- Negligence – making a mistake, giving the wrong advice or not delivering what you promise
- Libel or slander
- Sexual misconduct and abuse.
Even if there are no grounds for a claim, you’ll get an attorney to defend you and your legal fees paid. If it turns out you were at fault, it can pay compensation, too.
But that’s not all professional liability insurance covers. Say you accidentally lose sensitive client data (it happens). Your policy can pay up to $25,000 towards an HIPAA fine. And up to $5,000 if you ever find yourself facing disciplinary action.
What’s more, as long as you’ve had continuous cover previously, your policy can be retroactive. So you’re covered for claims made by students you’ve taught in the past too.
Business personal property insurance (BPP)
Do you take your own pilates equipment with you to classes? If so, a business personal property policy (BPP) is good to have. Because when you’re out and about, things are more likely to get lost, stolen or damaged. And replacing pilates equipment is expensive. (A decent reformer can set you back around $2,000 for a start.)
BPP insurance protects your Pilates kit (including laptops and mobiles) from loss, damage or theft.
Whether it’s in transit or stored at home. Add it to your general liability policy in a couple of clicks and protect anything moveable. From your mats to your magic rings and your trapeze table to your potted plants.
Workers’ compensation insurance
Workers’ comp insurance covers employee claims for illness or injury. If you employ anyone, it’s required in most states. (It’s worth checking your state’s rules, as penalties can be severe.)
But as the average cost of workplace injury claims is around $40,000, it’s a policy seriously worth having anyway.
Workers’ compensation insurance covers employee claims for:
- Injury or loss of limbs
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Work-site accidents
- Medical treatment
- Lost wages (up to limits)
- Death and related costs.
It can also take care of the cost of injured employee lawsuits.
Cyber insurance
As a small business owner, you might think you don’t need cyber insurance. Sadly, you’d be wrong.
With less money for tough cyber defenses, you’re an easy target. And these days it’s not simply a case of hackers holding your website to ransom. Email and money transfer fraud are on the rise.
If you use email, transfer money online or own a website, you need cyber liability insurance. It doesn’t just give you the financial resources to recover from an attack, you’ll get 24/7 technical support to help deal with it. It means you’ll be back up and running, doing business again fast.
Pilates instructor insurance cost
Our professional liability policies for Pilates teachers start from $16.50 a month. General liability policies start at around $25.99. The price you’ll pay for your insurance will depend on things like:
• Where your business is based
• The size of your business
• The limits you choose.
There are ways you can reduce the cost. Choosing a higher deductible (the amount you’ll contribute if there’s a claim) usually makes your policy cheaper. Just be sure you could actually afford to pay the deductible amount if it comes to it.
We offer payment options, too. You can pay in one lump sum, or spread the cost by paying in monthly or quarterly installments. Whatever works best for you.
Pilates teacher insurance quotes
All set? Get a no-obligation quote online now.
Still not sure what insurance you need? You’ll find more information over on our website. Or call us at 978.344.4215. We’ll be happy to to talk you through your options.