Insuring a Physiotherapy Practice - Property and Accident Cover
Overnight, a pipe burst above Beata's practice. Water flooded the shockwave therapy machine, the laser, and two electric treatment couches.
Overnight, a pipe burst above Beata's practice. Water flooded the shockwave therapy machine, the laser, and two electric treatment couches. The damage: around 25,000 PLN. Beata only had the mandatory professional liability insurance for physiotherapists and was convinced "something would cover it". Unfortunately, professional liability insurance protects patients against the consequences of a therapist's errors - not the practice's equipment. Beata was left to bear the entire loss herself.
Physiotherapists focus on their mandatory professional liability insurance and often overlook property insurance and accident cover. Yet a practice represents assets worth tens of thousands of zloty, exposed to fire, flooding, theft or power surges. In this article we show what insurance is worth having beyond professional liability cover, what a property policy includes, and how to avoid gaps in protection.
Professional liability isn't everything - telling the policy types apart
Many owners confuse different policies. Let's break it down:
- Physiotherapist's professional liability insurance - protects patients against the consequences of errors made in the course of professional practice; for KIF members it's usually linked to the professional body. This protects third parties, not your own assets.
- Property insurance - protects the premises, fixtures and equipment of the practice against random events.
- Accident insurance (NNW) - covers the consequences of accidents, protecting health (yours, your staff's, and sometimes your patients').
- General business liability insurance - liability for damage caused to third parties in connection with running the premises (e.g. a patient slipping on a wet floor).
Each of these covers a different type of risk, and none of them replaces the others.
Property insurance - what does it cover?
A property policy for a physiotherapy practice typically protects against the consequences of:
- fire, explosion, lightning strike
- flooding (burst pipes, water damage from a neighbouring property)
- burglary and robbery
- vandalism
- electrical power surges (important for expensive equipment)
- weather events (storms, hail, flooding - depending on the scope of cover)
The subject of the insurance can include: the premises (if you own them), fit-out investments (if you rent), equipment, medical devices, electronics, and stock.
How do you set the sum insured?
The sum insured should match the real value of your assets. Setting it too low leads to underinsurance - in the event of a claim, the insurer will pay out proportionally less. Take stock of your equipment:
| Item | Example value |
|---|---|
| Shockwave therapy machine | 15,000 – 40,000 PLN |
| High-energy laser | 20,000 – 60,000 PLN |
| Therapeutic ultrasound device | 3,000 – 8,000 PLN |
| Electric treatment couch (each) | 3,000 – 7,000 PLN |
| TENS / electrotherapy device | 2,000 – 6,000 PLN |
| Computer, reception furniture | 5,000 – 15,000 PLN |
Add up the values and use this as the basis for setting the sum insured for property, and separately for electronic equipment (often insured under a separate all-risks clause).
Electronic equipment insurance - a separate clause
Standard property insurance may not cover every type of failure affecting expensive equipment. It's therefore worth considering all-risks electronic equipment insurance, which also covers mechanical damage, operator errors and power surges. For a practice with a laser or shockwave device, this is often the most important part of the cover.
Accident insurance (NNW) - protecting your health
Accident insurance (NNW) provides a benefit in the event of an accident resulting in harm to health. For a physiotherapist whose ability to work depends on the condition of their hands and spine, this is significant protection. NNW is also worth considering for employees, and some practices offer it as a benefit.
When employing staff, remember that an accident at work is governed by separate regulations (social security/ZUS, accident insurance), and NNW is additional cover on top of that.
CTA: Not sure which types of insurance you actually need, or what documents you'll be asked for when you have them? The STANDARD package from FizjoReady includes an insurance checklist for physiotherapy practices and a guide to the documents needed for an inspection. You'll sort out your cover without guesswork. See FizjoReady packages →
General business liability insurance - a patient slips in the waiting room
This type of insurance is often confused with professional liability cover. General business liability insurance protects you when a third party suffers harm in connection with running the premises, but not from the therapy itself - for example, a patient falls on a slippery floor, hits poorly secured equipment, or their property is damaged through your fault. Professional liability insurance does not cover these situations.
Business interruption (BI) insurance
A more advanced option is a business interruption / loss-of-profit clause. If your practice has to close for several weeks following a fire or flood, this insurance can cover lost revenue and fixed costs. For practices heavily dependent on day-to-day continuity, this is a sensible safeguard.
What to look out for in a policy
- Exclusions - what the policy does NOT cover (read the terms and conditions/OWU carefully)
- Excess/deductible - how much you cover out of your own pocket in the event of a claim
- Replacement value vs. actual value - will the insurer pay out for new equipment, or reduce the payout for wear and tear
- Security requirements - alarms, locks, fire extinguishers (failing to meet these can reduce the payout)
- Sums and limits for individual risks (e.g. a limit on theft cover)
An insurance package for your practice - a sensible minimum
When choosing your cover, it's worth thinking of it as a package rather than a set of random, individual policies. For a typical physiotherapy practice, a sensible set is: mandatory professional liability insurance, property insurance with an electronic equipment clause, general business liability insurance, and accident insurance (NNW) for the owner and staff. Practices with expensive equipment and a full schedule should also consider a business interruption clause. This combination covers the key risks: a professional error, destruction of assets, harm caused to a patient on the premises, harm to health, and a break in operations. It's worth reviewing your policies once a year and updating the sums insured after every major equipment purchase.
Most common mistakes when insuring a practice
- relying solely on professional liability insurance and having no property insurance
- underinsuring equipment (too low a sum relative to its real value)
- not reading the exclusions and security requirements in the terms and conditions
- failing to update the policy after buying expensive equipment
Frequently asked questions
Does a physiotherapist's mandatory professional liability insurance cover damage to equipment?
No. Professional liability insurance protects patients against the consequences of errors made in the course of professional practice - it protects third parties, not your own assets. Damage to a treatment couch, laser or ultrasound device is covered by property insurance or electronic equipment insurance. These are two entirely different policies, and it's worth having both in place at the same time.
Do I need to insure premises I'm renting?
You usually don't need to insure the premises themselves (the building) - that's the owner's responsibility. It's worth insuring the fit-out investments you've funded, however, as well as all your equipment and fixtures, since these are your assets. Also check what your lease requires - some landlords impose an obligation to hold general business liability insurance.
How do I determine the sum insured for equipment?
Take stock of all your devices and equipment with their current replacement values, then add them up. The sum should match the real value of your assets to avoid underinsurance, which leads to a proportionally reduced payout. It's worth covering expensive equipment under a separate electronic equipment clause.
Is it worth having business interruption insurance?
For a practice whose income depends on day-to-day work, yes. If you have to close for several weeks after a flood or fire, a business interruption clause covers fixed costs and lost income. It's protection for your cash flow, allowing you to survive a break in operations without going into debt.
CTA: Want to get your practice's insurance in order and have your documents ready for an inspection? The STANDARD package from FizjoReady is a checklist and guide in a single file. See FizjoReady packages →
Related articles:
- Physiotherapist's professional liability insurance - is it mandatory?
- How much does it cost to open a physiotherapy practice
- Premises requirements for a physiotherapy practice