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Do I really need to purchase instructor liability insurance?
Purchasing insurance is often at the bottom of our to-do lists, but working as a fitness instructor without insurance is a risky business practice. You do need insurance, but coverage options can be complex and not all insurance programs are alike. And remember, if you are working as an independent contractor at one or more health club facilities, know that independent contractors are often excluded from the facility’s insurance. It is important to understand differences in coverage, what optional coverages are offered and coverage limits when choosing your insurance.
So what types of coverage should fitness instructors look for? Let’s start with some basic coverage descriptions:
Commercial general liability is coverage that protects the insured against liability claims for bodily injury and property damage arising out of operations. This might include:
- Legal liability to participants protects against bodily injury liability claims brought by persons participating in fitness/exercise activities under the direction of the insured.
- Professional liability provides protection against negligent or wrongful acts (breach of duty, neglect, error, omission, misstatement or a misleading statement in the course of fitness/exercise activities) that occur under the operations of the insured.
- Products-completed operations generally protects the business from claims related to the manufacture or sale of products to the public. However, some policies might exclude the making of or distributing nutritional supplements.
- Personal and advertising injury covers an injury to a third-party brought about by the insured business advertising its goods and services, usually by copyright or trademark infringement or due to libel, slander or invasion of privacy.
The occurrence limit on your policy is the maximum amount the insurer will pay for each incident; a limit of $1,000,000 per occurrence is the most common limit required by facilities, although some do require higher limits. Look for coverage from a reliable, financially secure provider that does not mandate deductibles.
The lowest price product may not include the types of coverage you need to be fully protected. Even if the coverage is comparable, low-cost policies are not a bargain if charges for certificates of insurance or for adding additional insureds to the policy are applied. Extra charges can be as much as $50 per certificate and can add up quickly if an instructor works for several health clubs or facilities.
To reduce the cost of insurance, check to see if your insurance provider offers discounts for fitness certification; some companies reward fitness professionals who participate in educational programs. Discounts are also available for instructors who purchase two-year policies.
Purchasing coverage online is a quick option available for your convenience, 24 hours a day. K&K Insurance is able to generate the certificate of coverage immediately when paying with credit card, providing nearly instant coverage. Get your quote for affordable coverage online today at www.fitnessinsurance-kk.com.
