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What is complementary therapy insurance?

Complementary and alternative medicine is a lucrative and fast-growing industry. But before you start offering treatments, it’s important to understand the risks and liabilities involved and get the right insurance cover in place. 

23.09.25

By Alan Boswell Group

Complementary Therapy Insurance

What is complementary therapy? 

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are alternative treatments that don’t come under mainstream healthcare.  

There’s no fixed definition of CAM, and it can cover a wide range of therapies and medical systems aimed at improving both physical and mental health. For example, CAM treatments can include acupuncture, body massage, counselling, yoga, reiki, physiotherapy, psychotherapy, homoeopathy, reflexology, aromatherapy, and meditation. For a comprehensive list of treatments and therapies, refer to our breakdown of approved therapies.  

CAM is growing quickly, with global search interest surging by 837% since 2016. In 2023, the revenue of the UK CAM sector was around £6.4 million, and that figure is projected to reach £37 million by 2030. Nine out of ten British people have tried a complementary therapy treatment at some point, making us the most likely in Europe to turn to CAM. Research by the British Acupuncture Council found that 70% of people would prefer to try a complementary therapy before a prescription painkiller.  

What’s the difference between complementary and alternative therapy? 

People sometimes make a distinction between complementary medicine (which is used alongside mainstream treatments) and alternative medicine (which is used instead of mainstream treatments).  

Some therapies, like aromatherapy, can be used either way – that is, as either a replacement for, or a complement to, mainstream medicine.  

What type of insurance does a complementary therapist need? 

If you’re planning to launch a CAM business, you’ll need to make sure you have the right insurance cover for the area you want to practise in. The risks involved vary depending on the part of the body being treated, the type of work involved, and the size of your business.  

A complementary and alternative therapy insurance policy will normally combine the following covers: 

  • Public liability insurance will cover you against claims made against your business by members of the public for accidental injury or damage to their belongings. For example, if one of your treatments goes wrong and a client takes legal action against you, the insurance will cover the associated costs, including payouts and legal fees.  

  • Product liability insurance is similar but covers the cost of compensating a customer who is injured by a faulty product that your business designs, manufactures, or supplies.  

  • Medical malpractice insurance is required by anyone providing clinical or medical care. It covers you against negligence, errors, and omissions that cause harm to one of your patients.  

  • Professional indemnity insurance can be provided for certain treatments and would cover against neglect, errors, or omissions when providing advice, treatment or therapy.  

  • Equipment insurance will provide cover for damage to, or theft of equipment used during treatment. This can also normally include devices such as laptops and smartphones.  

Your insurance policy will usually specify that you must look at the patient’s medical history to ensure the treatment you plan to carry out is safe, and you’ll also need to keep medical records for seven years.   

You should look for a policy where claims are accepted on the basis of ‘claims occurring’, rather than ‘claims made’. ‘Claims occurring’ means that claims will be accepted based on when the claim occurred (even if the claim is made after the policy has expired), while ‘claims made’ policies offer more limited cover as claims will only be accepted if cover is in place when the claim is made.   

Why do I need complementary therapist insurance? 

With the CAM sector growing so quickly, it can be tempting to jump right in and start offering services. However, performing complementary therapy on members of the public involves certain risks and liabilities. Many things can potentially go wrong, including slips and trips, equipment failure, disputes over advice you’ve given (or failed to provide), data breaches, and serious mistakes. 

Even if you feel that your area of CAM is relatively safe, it’s still worth getting insured, because all types of therapy can potentially lead to a claim. For example, facial beauty treatments and neck massage can have life-changing consequences if performed incorrectly.  

Whichever field you work in, you’ll need to be qualified and experienced to carry out treatments. Your insurance broker may ask to see a certificate proving that you hold a relevant professional qualification.

What’s the best way to get complementary therapy insurance? 

Take some time to learn about the different types of cover and reflect carefully on what you really need. Think through everything that could go wrong – not just with the treatment you provide, but also with the advice you give and administrative aspects such as how you handle customer data.  

At Alan Boswell Group, we can provide you with market-leading complementary therapy insurance that is precisely tailored to suit you and your business. Drawing on our experience in the field, we’ll be able to guide you through the process and help you choose the perfect insurance solution.  

Need help with complementary therapy insurance?

Whether you need a quote, have a general enquiry, or just want to talk through your requirements, we’re here to help.   

Speak to us:  01603 649725

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