What’s Covered by Lockton Affinity Fitness Professional Liability Insurance for IDEA Members

Professional Liability insurance is specialty insurance designed to cover fitness professionals charging a fee for services such as guidance, training, instruction, counseling, etc. in a professional capacity.

Just as Auto, Home or Health insurance provides the financial means to recover from unexpected circumstances on a personal level, Professional Liability insurance provides financial security to practicing fitness professionals on a professional level. It provides coverage for the cost of legal fees to defend you, judgments or settlements (including lawsuits against you) and reimbursement for lost wages due to time spent defending a covered claim.

Before making a buying decision, it’s important to understand what coverage is afforded under an insurance policy, so you can make an informed decision on your insurance purchase.

To better understand what’s included in Professional Liability insurance, explore the outline of coverage and additional features provided by the Lockton Affinity Fitness Professional Liability insurance policy. Please note that this overview is provided for illustrative purposes only. Always refer to your Master Policy documentation for a complete description of all policy terms and conditions of your policy.

Understanding Professional Liability Insurance Coverage

These coverages are included in Professional Liability insurance for IDEA members from Lockton Affinity Fitness. Some of these coverages are unique to our coverage and may not be available from other insurance providers.

Defense and settlement cost coverage – Covers damages (a judgment or settlement to the injured party), legal fees and court costs, up to the policy limits, that the insured becomes legally responsible to pay for claims for Professional Liability or General Liability.

Medical expenses – Covers the medical expenses associated with the bodily injury of another person resulting from an accident, regardless of whose fault the accident is, so long as the accident occurred on premises that are owned or rented by the Insured, or as a result of the insured’s operations.

General liability – Coverage for damages and expenses the insured is responsible for paying that stem from claims of Personal Injury, Property Damages or Advertising Liability caused by an accident, up to the policy limits.

Fire and water damage legal liability – Coverage for damages and expenses for claims of damage to the premises in which the insured conducts business – whether rented or temporarily occupied – due to fire, or water damage. Coverage does not apply for claims involving First Party Property Damage or Property Damage to personal property.

Host liquor liability – Coverage for damages and expenses arising from the serving of alcoholic beverages at functions incidental to the insured’s professional services, so long as the insured is not engaged in the business of manufacturing, distributing, selling or serving alcoholic beverages.

Understanding Professional Liability Insurance Features

These coverage features are included in Professional Liability insurance for IDEA members from Lockton Affinity Fitness. Some of these features are unique to our coverage and may not be available from other insurance providers.

Claims made coverage – A claims-made policy provides coverage for claims that are made within the period that the policy is in force. It is common for claims-made policies to also contain a “reported” component which requires the claim to be reported to the insurer within the policy period. As long as you have continuously renewed claims-made coverage, you may report claims for incidents that occurred in previous years, back to your prior acts date.

Extended claims reporting period option – A claim filed after a claims-made policy expires is not covered unless you purchased an extended claims reporting period or “tail coverage”. When coverage under the policy ends, you have the option to purchase a 12, 24 or 36-month reporting period endorsement. This tail coverage essentially extends the period of time that claims, because of acts occurring during the policy period, can be reported against the policy. If tail coverage is not purchased, claims reported after the policy expires are not covered.

Limits of liability – A wide range of limits are available to fit the exposures you face in your job. The limits you choose should match the size and scope of your practice and should take into account your potential liabilities. Limits range from $500,000 per occurrence / $500,000 aggregate to $2,000,000 per claim / $4,000,000 aggregate.

Deductible for individuals – Individual certificate holders are subject to a $1,000 or $2,500 deductible for each loss, based on the rating category for your specific occupation.

Portability of coverage – You’re covered no matter where you provide professional fitness services. It covers you for the work you do during your employment and for any fitness services you provide outside of your employment.

Certificates of insurance – Often, fitness studios will require proof of insurance, or a certificate of insurance, before you can instruct. With coverage from Lockton Affinity Fitness, you don’t have to pay for certificates of insurance, unlike some providers.

Additional insureds – You have the option to add qualifying entities or individuals to your policy as additional insureds, so they can have coverage under your policy.

Effective date, application and licensure – Coverage becomes effective on the date the completed application is formally approved, and premium payment is received. All applicants must meet appropriate licensure or certification requirements (based on their state statutes) in their chosen business class.

Choose Coverage and Features Designed for IDEA Members

It’s important to explore your options when considering your insurance coverage, as coverage and premiums can vary from one insurance provider to the next. By doing your due diligence researching insurance plans available, you will ensure the best insurance coverage for the work that you do as a fitness professional.

IDEA has partnered with Lockton Affinity to provide access to comprehensive liability insurance coverage for small business owners and fitness professionals at an affordable price.

Explore additional coverage details and get started today!

The IDEA Health & Fitness Association Insurance program is administered by Lockton Affinity, LLC d/b/a Lockton Affinity Insurance Brokers LLC in California #0795478. Coverage is subject to actual policy terms and conditions. Policy benefits are the sole responsibility of the issuing insurance company. IDEA Health & Fitness Association will receive a royalty fee for the licensing of its name and trademarks as part of the insurance program offered to the extent permitted by applicable law.