Since practitioners first began practicing acupuncture thousands of years ago in ancient China, acupuncture has helped more people than it has hurt. But practicing acupuncture comes with risks, and if something goes wrong, the cost of a claim will likely far outweigh the cost of acupuncture malpractice insurance.
For example, in 2013, a man in Portland, Oregon, sued an acupuncturist for malpractice for $3 million for allegedly leaving two needles in his skin after his treatment, causing excruciating pain and impacting his ability to walk. And in 2015, a San Diego woman sued an acupuncturist for an unspecified amount for performing a procedure for which he wasn’t licensed, resulting in a collapsed lung.
While these might be extreme examples of what can go wrong, even the most knowledgeable and well-meaning acupuncturist can make mistakes. When those mistakes happen, acupuncture malpractice insurance can get your clients the money they are owed while protecting your business’ reputation and your personal finances as well.
How Much Acupuncture Malpractice Insurance Costs With BBI
Beauty and Bodywork Insurance (BBI)’s acupuncture liability insurance costs just $33.58 per month. It’s an endorsement you can add to your base general liability policy (which costs $9.99 per month). This makes the total cost of acupuncture malpractice insurance $43.57 per month. Or you can pay $499 annually for the base policy plus acupuncture endorsement coverage.
In addition to acupuncture malpractice coverage, the base policy additionally provides:
- Up to $3 million in general and professional liability coverage
- $2 million per occurrence limit
- Personal and advertising injury (included)
- Product-completed operations coverage (included)
- $300,000 in damage to premises rented
- No-fault medical expense coverage up to $5,000
If you’d like to add endorsements for other practices, like cupping or microcurrent, this option will be available at checkout. Because certain acupuncture practices can pose a higher risk for accidental injury, adding services like these to your policy will increase the monthly or annual cost of your insurance.
Benefits vs Cost of Acupuncture Malpractice Insurance
Having acupuncture insurance can protect your business in a variety of ways, and far outweighs the cost of acupuncture insurance. It’s designed to protect you and your business in the event a client sues you, claiming they have been harmed due to your negligence or error.
If this happens, your costs for legal defense, medical bills, and any potential settlements or judgments can easily climb to the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Malpractice insurance can cover all these costs, safeguarding your personal and business finances. Because it’s combined with other coverages, it can also cover claims arising from mistakes or omissions in the course of professional services beyond actual treatment.
Some other ways BBI’s acupuncture insurance benefits you, include:
- Property damage: If you accidentally damage a client’s property (like clothing or personal belongings) while they are in your clinic, your general liability insurance can cover the cost of repairs or replacement.
- Professional advice-related issues: If a client files a claim alleging that following your professional advice led to physical or emotional harm, professional liability coverage is there to protect you.
- Breach of confidentiality: If you accidentally breach client confidentiality or disclose private health information, which could lead to legal action, liability insurance could cover legal defense and any settlements.
- Product-related lawsuits: If you use a lotion or herbal remedy on a client during a session and they have an allergic reaction and sue you, products-completed operations coverage offers protection for this.
- Damage to a room you rent: Many acupuncturists and other bodyworkers lease space from clinics and salons. If you accidentally damage a space you’re renting in the course of doing business, the damage to premises rented coverage can pay for repairs or related costs.
Having malpractice insurance can provide peace of mind, knowing that you are protected against the financial risks of lawsuits. Plus, if you lease space for your practice, it’s common for your landlord to not only require that you have insurance, but that you add them as an additional insured to your policy.
It also enhances your professional credibility with clients, who may be more inclined to seek treatment from someone they know is insured. All in all, adding acupuncture malpractice insurance costs just over $1 day—but this is eclipsed by all the ways our liability and malpractice policy can protect you and your business. Apply online and get coverage instantly
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Acupuncture Malpractice Insurance Required by Law?
Whether acupuncture malpractice insurance is required by law varies by state and municipality. Check with your local or state licensing board to understand the insurance requirements for your acupuncture business. But even if it’s not a legal requirement, you may be required to provide proof of insurance to obtain or renew your license or to rent a space to practice.
What Does Acupuncture Insurance Cover?
Simply put, acupuncture insurance covers the costs associated with accidental bodily injury to your clients, property damage that happens in the course of treatment, and unintentional consequences of using a product during treatment.
Is There a Difference Between Acupuncture Malpractice Insurance and Liability Insurance?
No. Since acupuncture malpractice insurance is an endorsement that’s added to a liability policy, it provides both malpractice and liability coverage for acupuncturists in the bodywork field.
What is the Difference Between Professional Liability and Malpractice Insurance?
Malpractice insurance is a form of professional liability insurance typically available to doctors, nurses, dentists, and other medical professionals. Professional liability insurance may be included with general liability or offered as an add-on and can be obtained by many different types of professionals. It protects the insured from claims that professional advice they provided to a client led to the client being harmed in some way.
All insurance policies have conditions, limitations and exclusions. Please refer to the policy for exact coverages.
