Student Insurance - ABMT, AMTA

[musicseawater]

Who finds this necessary? I don't really understand the need or benefit of joining as a student. I've read the brochures, but the 'need' hasn't really stuck out at me.

Am I missing something or is this just a way for these agencies to make more money and well, I guess you get a magazine too which is pretty cool, but worth it? Yes/No?

I'd love to hear opinions!

Thanks!

 

[Amphitrite]

As a school owner, I buy student memberships (ABMP) for my students. They get massage and bodywork mag, they get some other cool stuff (student success guide, student massage planner and other online resources) and they get malpractice coverage not only in the school and clinic, but any where they go and do massage.

I actually think a student is more likely to cause "sue-able" harm to a client than a licensed therapist. Of course, they're also more likely to get sympathy for this, rather than a lawsuit. *shrug* I'd say take it or leave it. If you want to be insured in the case of a lawsuit while a student, you may want to consider it. ABMP also offers you a discount when you get licensed and upgrade from student to practitioner.

 

[DesertDog]

Thanks Shiva!

It's interesting that you refer to ABMP also, since that is the one I am most interested in :grin:

 

[norah]

Student rate is cheaper, from what I remember. I purchased AMTA insurance at the student rate right before I graduated school, the insurance was good for a year from the date I purchased.

I saw it as a money saver doing it that way.

I am now with ABMP.

 

[Desi Chef]

I didn't purchase student insurance because PA isn't yet regulated and I had a job while still in school. Once you are getting compensated, you aren't covered by student insurance. I ended up getting practitioner's insurance thru ABMP. If you are in a regulated state, I'd say go for it. A small price to pay for piece of mind and covering your a$$.

 

[Jesss]

my hubby is an lmt; i am still a student. he has his ins. thru abmp. i joined as a student when i started my internship. i don't work on anyone (other than him/our kids) outside of the internship, personally- ins. or no. for me, it is indeed a 'cya' issue. i also like that i can get started with my email/website stuff NOW with it, of course, with hubby already in business it's more important. when he started out he got his email/website with a different biz. name, so it's good for us to have mine to actually use now, lol!

i wish our school would include student memberships for us too. what a great idea, shiva!

 

[BeBE Banks]

Student rate is cheaper, from what I remember. I purchased AMTA insurance at the student rate right before I graduated school, the insurance was good for a year from the date I purchased.

I saw it as a money saver doing it that way.

I am now with ABMP.

That is exactly what I did. The insurance did cover me after graduation and while being compensated.

 

[White Al Sharpton]

I just read the ABMP application at school and it said that the student insurance is only good as long as you are a student.

As soon as you start practicing for compensation, the student insurance no longer covers you.

 

[Harry P]

I just read the ABMP application at school and it said that the student insurance is only good as long as you are a student.

As soon as you start practicing for compensation, the student insurance no longer covers you.

I had AMTA. That was a few years ago, so perhaps that is different now, but at the time they assured complete coverage for the full year, even if practicing for compensation.

 

[Lying Lib Radicals]

When I read the fine print on ABMP for Student Insurance I saw that it would only cover you as a student while you are doing events in connection with the school. For instance, if you do a chair massage event and you're sent out by the school or if you're in the student clinic.

But maybe I have read this wrong. I would be happy if I did because I'd like to be covered as a student while I practice outside of school. I haven't purchased it yet because the school already has insurance that covers all students and if it only covers me in relation to events that are with the school it wouldn't make any sense for me to do it.

Has anyone else seen this in the terms?
Thanks!

 

[asambrano752]

Maybe I'm taking this wrong, but I read:

The insurance covers those massage-related clinics, internships, volunteer events, or other off-site practice skill development activities which are approved by the school and are permitted under applicable state and local government regulations.

from ABMP's website (the schools section). So I figure if your teacher gives you homework to massage people outside of class, or just says "practice!" then that practice outside of class is covered under the "off-site practice skill development activites" heading. However, if you are in a state which prohibits this (there are some, aren't there? that prohibit working on the public?)

In NM students are not allowed to work on the public until they've had 100 hours of instruction in massage therapy. So probably there would not be any coverage until after this 100 hour mark.

Thank you for bringing this up! I will definitely ask ABMP about it, because to me it's not totally clear.

 

[DJ ohio.]

Ask your school if they cover students, and if so under what circumstances. If you will be practicing outside of school coverage, you need your own insurance. AMTA and ABMP have different policies, so check each one thoroughly and choose based on the best policy rather than solely on lowest price.

My insurance was totally covered while I was in school, just so long as I did not receive compensation. No problem there! I didn't have to pay a dime until I signed up for my own coverage just before graduation.

I have AMTA coverage.

 

[Mid]

I think , when I was teaching a massage class last year, that we did some research and concluded that, after 100 hours of class a student could apply for ABMP and get liability insurance that would cover them outside of the educational institution---- it was either 100 or 150 hours,,, sorry my memory is sputtering today!!

 

[little B]

Where I go to school in Wilmington, DE, the teacher I currently have is the Pres. of the DE chapter of AMBP. They encourage us that once we get certified (300hrs) to get insurance from there or AMTA. The student rate is cheaper for AMBPbecause you're a student, but once you're not anymore, you're considered a professional and have to start paying that price. This is as far as I remember her saying.