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Professional Liability Insurance for Physical Therapists
As a physical therapist (PT), you and your staff work hard to help patients recover from injuries. And as much as you try to avoid them, mistakes can happen during your time with a patient. This is where professional liability insurance for physical therapists can help. It can protect you if a patient claims there was an accident or issue with the services provided.
Many states may require businesses to carry physical therapy liability insurance, also known as malpractice insurance.
Even if your state doesn’t require this type of business insurance, it’s still good to have. Without it, you may have to pay out of pocket for liability claims, which can devastate your business.
What Is the Average Cost of Professional Liability Insurance for Physical Therapists?
Physical therapy liability insurance average costs vary between states. That’s because every business is different and has unique needs. If you have a smaller physical therapy business, you may pay between $300 and $1,500 a year for PT insurance coverage. Larger facilities may pay between $800 and $15,000 a year.
Insurers use different factors to determine a business’ professional liability insurance cost. This includes:
- The type of business
- Location
- Coverage limits
- Policy details, like deductible amount
- Years in business
- Claims history
- Number of licensed professionals in the business
Getting a quote is the best way to find out how much professional liability coverage will cost you.
Physical Therapy Liability Insurance Coverage
Physical therapy liability insurance can help protect your business from claims of:
- Negligence
- Misrepresentation
- Inaccurate advice
Patients can also sue if you failed to protect their personally identifiable information (PII).
Professional liability insurance for physical therapists can help if a patient lawsuit claims:
- Their injury got worse after following a treatment plan at home.
- Your physical therapists didn't properly treat them.
- A physical therapist assistant incorrectly used equipment during treatment.
If your office gets sued, professional liability insurance can give you peace of mind, helping pay for:
- Defense costs
- Lost earnings
- Settlements
- Judgments
What Other Liability Insurance Coverages Do Physical Therapists Need?
Remember, professional liability insurance doesn’t cover every kind of claim. It's a good idea to have other types of insurance. Other liability coverages that physical therapists may need include:
General liability insurance to help cover claims that your physical therapy business caused bodily injury or property damage to someone else’s belongings. For example, let's say an exercise band snaps while a patient uses it and it hits them in the face, requiring a trip to urgent care. Your general liability insurance coverage can help pay for their medical expenses.
Data breach insurance to help you respond to a breach where PII or health records get stolen or lost. Some insurers also call this coverage cyber liability insurance. This type of insurance can help pay your costs to:
- Notify affected patients
- Offer credit monitoring services
- Create a public relations campaign to improve your business' reputation
Workers’ compensation insurance to help your employees recover from work injuries or illnesses. Our workers' compensation program offers needle stick reimbursement. So, if you or your staff get a needle stick, your coverage can help pay for testing.
Employment practices liability insurance, which helps cover employment-related claims. This includes:
- Discrimination
- Wrongful termination
- Harassment
Who Needs Physical Therapy Liability Insurance?
Physical therapy liability insurance can help many types of licensed healthcare professionals, like:
- Physical therapists
- Physical therapist assistants (PTAs)
- Aides
- Technicians
- Interns
Liability insurance for physical therapist assistants helps protect PTAs from patient lawsuits. If they make a mistake and a patient sues your business for it, this coverage can help them. They'll have the same coverage as you and other physical therapists.
Be aware that coverage eligibility may vary between insurers. For example, with The Hartford, licensed physical therapists and other professionals must be employees of your business to get coverage. If a physical therapist works for another type of employer, like a hospital, they may not get professional liability coverage.
Get a Physical Therapy Professional Liability Insurance Quote Today
You’ll want to work with an insurance partner that you know you can trust. We’re an experienced insurance company with over 200 years of experience and know that every business is unique. That’s why we’ve created coverages specifically made for small businesses.
We understand the challenges and risks you face and our specialists are here to help make sure you’re covered. Whether you need risk management services or help dealing with a claim, we’ve got your back.
Last Updated: January 23, 2025
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