While transitioning between machines, a client loses their balance and falls into the Reformer well. They sprain an ankle and end up in a boot. Later, a new client texts you to say their knee has been hurting since your session. Their doctor says your workout exacerbated an old injury, and you need to pay for their knee surgery.
Then, a studio hires you to teach small group Reformer and Mat Pilates classes. Before your first day, they ask you for your Certificate of Insurance (COI).
What’s the connection between these scenarios? Besides being things Pilates instructors often experience, they’re all examples of what Pilates instructor insurance is designed to help with.
TL;DR: Pilates Insurance in 60 Seconds
- Insurance is designed to protect instructors from the financial burden of claims and lawsuits
- Pilates instructors need at least general liability and professional liability coverage
- Insurance is necessary regardless of the number of hours worked
- Use liability waivers and health history forms to reduce your risks further
- Insurance Canopy policies are affordable and easy to manage
Pilates instructor insurance is designed to protect you from financial losses related to your work as an instructor. In other words, it helps you pay for things like injuries to others or property damage you accidentally cause, as well as claims or lawsuits brought against you.
Pilates instructor policies provide what’s known as liability insurance, or liability coverage. While your auto and health insurance policies cover accidents and injuries that happen to you, liability insurance applies to incidents that affect others.
Liability insurance covers third parties
First party = You
Third parties = Not you
(Second party = Us, your insurance company)
Why Liability Insurance Matters for Pilates Instructors
Liability insurance matters for Pilates instructors because you can’t control everything all the time. Accidents can always happen. And even one accident can lead to thousands of dollars in claim costs, which most Pilates instructors don’t have just sitting around.
It’s also frequently a requirement for individual instructors working for gyms or studios. If you’re self-employed or work out of your home, you still need your own liability coverage, since homeowners insurance is limited when it comes to activities you do for work.
What Is a COI?
COI stands for Certificate of Insurance. It’s also known as an ACORD COI. It’s your proof of insurance document that shows you have active insurance coverage. When studios or other entities request proof of insurance, this is what they are referring to.
Common Risks Pilates Professionals Face
The top risks Pilates instructors face include:
- Client falls
- Other client injuries
- Liability claims and lawsuits
- Property damage
Falls are one of the most common causes of claims across all fitness styles at Insurance Canopy. They’re also one of the most common risks in Pilates due to the many stability and balance exercises, and the use of Reformers and other machines.
Injuries can also stem from things like:
- Clients performing movements incorrectly
- Participants overextending themselves
- Underlying health conditions
- Equipment malfunctions
- Mistakes in your instructions, judgment, or setup
Liability claims and lawsuits occur when someone blames you for an injury or accuses you of causing some kind of harm or damage. Even if someone sues you over something that wasn’t your fault, it still takes time and money to handle that lawsuit.
Property damage can happen to your clients’ personal belongings, equipment in the studio, or another person’s stuff, like accidentally cracking a mirror or stepping on a client’s smartphone.
These risks can lead to devastating consequences for your reputation, bank account, and the overall success of your business. Liability insurance is crucial because it’s designed to make these possible consequences less devastating.
Pro tip: Reduce your risks by using health history forms and Pilates liability waivers with every client.
Health history forms give you the information you need to assess a student’s realistic physical abilities, their medical conditions, or if they need a doctor’s okay before starting Pilates.
Liability waivers inform students about the potential risks involved.
What Types of Coverage Do Pilates Instructors Need?
You need at least general liability and professional liability insurance. These are the two primary types of insurance that anyone who works with the public should have. Many studios and gyms require these coverages in order to use or teach in their facilities.
Essential Coverages
While general and professional liability cover the majority of potential incidents, there are several other essential coverage types. The following coverages are all included in Insurance Canopy’s standard Pilates instructor policies.
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Professional liability |
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Wait, What’s the Difference Between General and Professional Liability?
The primary difference between general and professional liability insurance lies in their scope of coverage, specifically in what actually caused the incident in question.
General liability is designed for bodily injury or physical damage that happens in or around your class. For example, a client breaks their wrist after tripping over an entryway or accidentally damaging a client’s smartphone.
Professional liability insurance is designed to cover injuries and accidents resulting from your advice or instructions. This means things like mistakes in your directions, errors in your judgment, or a failure to provide proper instructions (commonly known as negligence).
Optional Coverages
Depending on your personal business needs, you may need additional coverage to fill in gaps, like gear and equipment or cyber liability insurance. The following coverages are available as optional add-ons with Insurance Canopy.
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Diet & Nutrition Coverage |
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Coverage Limits and Policy Structure: What They Are & Why They Matter
Coverage limits and policy structure are essentially the “rules” of how claims are paid under your policy.
Coverage Limits
Coverage limits are the total amounts that can be paid by an insurance policy. There are two kinds of limits: aggregate and per-occurrence.
- Aggregate limit = the maximum total your policy will pay for all covered claims during one policy period
- Occurrence limit = the max amount your policy will pay for one individual claim
For example, Insurance Canopy has a general and professional liability aggregate limit of $3 million, and a per-occurrence limit of $2 million. This means the most we can pay for any one claim is $2 million, and the most we can pay for all these types of claims combined is $3 million.
Limit Example with Numbers
Your aggregate limit is $3 million. If you have three claims in one policy year totaling $3.5 million, your insurance will only pay $3 million total.
Your per-occurrence limit is $2 million. If you have a single claim for $2.5 million, your insurer will only pay $2 million for that incident.
If you have one claim for $2.5 million and a second claim for $2 million, your policy will pay $2 million for the first and $1 million for the second.
Claim 1: Your insurance pays $2,000,000, because your single claim limit is $2,000,000. Your remaining aggregate (total) limit is: $3,000,000 – $2,000,000 = $1,000,000.
Claim 2: Your insurance pays $1,000,000, because you only have $1,000,000 left for your total limit. After that, your limit is $0, and your policy cannot pay more until it renews or you purchase excess coverage.
Policy Structure
Most liability policies follow one of two possible structures: claims-made or occurrence-form.
Claims-made policies essentially have a limited time period for reporting claims. To be accepted, claims must occur during the policy period and be reported within a specified time period.
Occurrence form policies don’t have this restricted reporting time. As long as the original incident happened while the policy was active, it can be reported at any time (even if the policy has since expired).
Pro tip: Occurrence form policies are the preferred policy type for most fitness, health, and wellness professions. Pilates liability policies with Insurance Canopy are occurrence form policies.
How Much Does Pilates Instructor Insurance Cost?
Liability insurance for Pilates instructors from Insurance Canopy costs as little as $15 a month or $159 per year.
Your final Pilates insurance cost depends on which, if any, optional add-on coverages you choose. Add-ons range from $1.33/month to $14.46/month, depending on the level and type of coverage.
Some insurance companies adjust your rates based on where you live or how many hours you work. We don’t. Your premiums are the same regardless of where you live*, how many locations you work at, or if you teach in person or virtually or both.
The potential costs of not having liability insurance? Over $150 for the average urgent care visit, $200+ per hour for an attorney, thousands in other settlement costs, plus whatever reputational harm comes along with claims and lawsuits.
*Currently not for sale in Missouri.
How to File a Pilates Insurance Claim (+ What to Expect)
If you need to file a claim, you can do so from your online customer dashboard at any time. Here’s what you’d need to do:
- Gather all necessary information and paperwork
- If possible, have a police report ready for theft claims
- Log in to your online account
- Locate the “Manage Policies” section and click on “Claims” and “File A Claim”
- Fill out the necessary info and submit your claim.
Our team will reach out within 24-48 hours to confirm we’ve received your claim and are working on it. You’ll then be contacted by your claims adjuster with a claim number. You’ll be able to ask them questions, and they may ask you for additional details.
Depending on the claim, it can take a few weeks to a few months to resolve. Be sure to keep a copy of your claim information and any related documents.
Why Pilates Instructors Choose Insurance Canopy
Insurance Canopy offers Pilates instructors affordable, customizable, and highly rated liability insurance. Our comprehensive coverage and low cost combine to make us the best value on the market.
We also provide a quick and easy online purchasing process, so you can get a quote, coverage, and proof of insurance today. Our online dashboard makes it simple to get your policy documents, add or update coverages, and add additional insureds at any time.
Quick-Start: Get Covered in 10 Minutes or Less
Getting Pilates liability insurance is quick and easy with Insurance Canopy’s online checkout process.
- Go to the checkout page and select “Pilates instructor”
- Provide basic business information
- Opt in or out of additional coverages
- Choose your policy start date and review your coverage choices
- Choose annual or monthly payments and input payment info
A few seconds after processing payment, you’ll receive an email confirmation and instant access to your certificate of insurance (COI) through your online dashboard.
Frequently Asked Questions About Liability Insurance for Pilates Instructors
Does My Studio’s Policy Cover Me as an Independent Contractor?
Typically, no. Most studios do not automatically include you on their liability policy if you’re an independent contractor. Even if they do provide coverage, it’s likely limited. Plus, if you work at more than one studio, each one will have its own insurance rules in place.
How Do I Add a Studio as an Additional Insured?
You can add one or more additional insureds to your policy when you purchase it, or through your online dashboard 24/7. If you’re buying a new policy, you’ll be prompted to list additional insureds during the checkout process. You need their name, contact information, and address.
To add an additional insured to your current policy:
- Log in to your online account
- Click “Add additional insureds” under the “Manage Policies” section
- Enter their name, address, and contact information
- Pay for the added insured(s), if necessary
- Click “Proof of Insurance” to re-download your updated Certificate of Insurance (COI)
Once you add a studio to your policy, they’ll be notified and receive a copy of your updated certificate of insurance via email.
How Do I Get a COI and How Fast Can I Get It?
If you’re already an Insurance Canopy policyholder, your COI is available to download instantly from your user dashboard. Simply log in and select “Proof of Insurance” under “Download Documents.”
If you’re not a policyholder yet, you can buy a policy, log into your user dashboard, and download your COI all today in as little as 10 minutes.
