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Liability Insurance for Chiropractors

Liability Insurance for Chiropractors 

Chiropractic care helps patients manage pain and restore function, but hands-on treatment brings real legal exposure. Recent jury verdicts show how quickly claims can escalate when manipulations, documentation, or referrals go wrong.

Homewood Insurance helps chiropractors secure coverage that reflects day-to-day risks—manual adjustments, soft-tissue work, imaging, consent, and timely referrals.

This page explains what your insurance should include, typical costs, and which procedures most often increase premiums or require special terms.

Get a Free Quote Now

The fastest way to find the most suitable insurance coverage for chiropractors is to fill out our quick quote form, so we can give you an idea of the type of insurance coverage that best suits you.

Homewood Insurance works with a number of different carriers to ensure you have the most suitable insurance coverage at the best price.

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Chiropractors Liability Insurance can include:

  • Covers claims related to spinal manipulation, mobilization, soft-tissue treatment, rehabilitative exercise, and therapeutic modalities.
  • Protection for allegations of injury, improper technique, inadequate screening, or failure to refer.
  • Options for prenatal and pediatric patients, manipulation under anesthesia, and in-office diagnostic imaging.
  • Applies to solo practitioners, group practices, and multidisciplinary clinics (with entity coverage).
  • Defense costs paid in addition to liability limits.
  • Common limits up to $1,000,000 per claim / $3,000,000 aggregate, with tail and prior-acts available.

Insurance for Chiropractors can include:

Malpractice or liability insurance can provide essential protection against these risks:

  1. Professional Liability (Malpractice) Insurance

    1. Treatment-related injuries (for example, sprain/strain, rib injury, nerve injury, vertebral artery dissection).
    2. Errors tied to cervical or lumbar adjustments, soft-tissue therapy, or rehab exercises.
    3. Missed red flags and failure to refer for imaging, neurology, or emergency care.
    4. Informed-consent disputes and documentation errors.
    5. Optional protection for manipulation under anesthesia (where permitted) and in-house X-ray, with required credentials.
    6. Entity coverage for owners plus employed/contracted staff (assistants, massage therapists, physical therapy staff within scope).s

  2. General Liability Insurance (premises and operations)

    1. Visitor injuries in reception, hallways, restrooms, and parking areas.
    2. Property damage to others during wellness events or off-site screenings.
    3. Personal and advertising injury (defamation, content issues in marketing).
    4. Medical payments for minor on-site injuries, regardless of fault.

  3. Recommended add-ons

    1. Cyber Liability Insurance – protects patient information and imaging archives.
    2. Employment practices – covers workplace allegations (for clinics with staff).
    3. Owners entity protection – ensures the clinic as a business is covered, not just the individual provider.

Why do Chiropractors Need Insurance?

Hands-on care carries elevated risk. Common claim drivers include:

  • Treatment-related injury after an adjustment or soft-tissue work.
  • Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of conditions requiring medical referral.
  • Lack of informed consent—especially for higher-risk cervical techniques.
  • Improper technique or deviation from care plans and protocols.
  • Failure to refer for imaging or specialist opinion.
  • Privacy and professionalism concerns (records handling, boundaries, ethics).

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How Much does Insurance for Chiropractors Cost?

Premiums are influenced by specialty mix, litigation environment, facility size, and claims history. Carriers also evaluate risk management protocols such as credentialing, peer review, and informed consent.

Professional Liability (individual chiropractor) — typical annual ranges

  • Standard outpatient practice, balanced case mix: $1,000 – $3,000
  • Higher-risk mix (frequent cervical HVLA, MUA, complex cases): $2,000 – $5,000+

General Liability (if you operate a clinic or do events)

  • Typical add-on for a small clinic: $400 – $1,200 per year
  • Larger, multi-provider clinic or frequent events: $1,200 – $3,000+

Notes on pricing

  • State legal climate, claim history, policy limits, and chosen deductible strongly affect rates.
  • Claims-made vs. occurrence: claims-made often starts lower but needs tail if you switch or retire; occurrence costs more up front but no tail is needed.
  • Adding services (rehab programs, nutritional counseling, in-office X-ray) should be disclosed so coverage matches your scope.

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High-Risk Procedures and their Impact on your Premiums

Some techniques and scenarios draw heavier underwriting scrutiny. Clear consent, rigorous screening, and careful documentation help control cost.

Technique / Scenario Why It’s Higher Risk Controls Required Insurance Impact
High-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) cervical manipulation Rare but severe vascular or neurologic injury claims Vascular risk screening, informed consent, alternatives discussed +30–50% potential surcharge without strong protocols
Manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) Invasive environment; nerve and tissue injury allegations Hospital/ASC privileges, credentialing, anesthesia team, documentation +40–60%; often requires specific endorsement
Treating high-risk patients (osteoporosis, anticoagulation, vascular disease) Fracture or bleeding events; missed red flags Modified techniques, imaging/referrals, specialist coordination +20–40% depending on patient mix
In-office X-ray and advanced modalities Reading errors, burns, or equipment issues if unmanaged Training, quality assurance, documented indications and reports +15–30% unless quality program earns credits
Pediatric or prenatal adjustments Heightened family sensitivity; documentation scrutiny Age-appropriate techniques, parent consent, referral thresholds Moderate surcharge; stronger consent lowers load

Best-Practice Checklist to Keep Premiums Down

  • Use a plain-language consent for cervical and higher-risk techniques; offer alternatives.
  • Screen for red flags (neurologic, vascular, bone density, anticoagulants) and document your findings.
  • Stick to evidence-based indications; refer promptly for imaging or specialist input when needed.
  • Keep care plans and progress notes tight—what you did, why you did it, and patient response.
  • If you run a clinic, maintain incident logs, periodic chart audits, and staff training.
  • Make sure your entity policy and personal policy work together (no gaps, no double counting of limits).

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Other types of Insurance Chiropractors
may need

 
General Liability Insurance

General Liability Insurance

General Liability covers medical expenses and attorney fees which result from bodily injuries and property damage that your facility or organization could be legally responsible for.
 
 
Business owner's policy (BOP insurance)

Business owner's policy (BOP) insurance

A Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) is a comprehensive insurance package designed for Medical Professionals with small to medium-sized businesses. It provides a blend of liability protection and property insurance.
 
 
Professional Liability Insurance

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional Liability Insurance overs any negligence or mistakes made by the individual chiropractors during their practice. It differs from General Liability insurance, which covers the practice itself.
 
 
Commercial Auto Insurance

Commercial Auto Insurance

This is relevant for chiropractors who use a vehicle for practice-related tasks. This insurance covers you against auto accidents, theft, and other vehicle-related incidents.
 
 
workers compensation insurance

Workers Compensation Insurance

Workers Compensation Insurance is usually mandated by law. It protects chiropractors practices and employees in case of work-related injuries or illnesses.
 
 
Cyber Liability Insurance

Cyber Liability Insurance

Covers you against financial losses associated with data breaches, cyber attacks, and other cyber incidents. Insurers will usually conduct rigorous testing of your online system to fix vulnerabilities as part of this policy.
 

Why Work With Homewood

  • Coverage tailored to how you actually practice—solo, group, or multidisciplinary.
  • Access to nearly 100 insurance carriers, including markets familiar with chiropractic risks.
  • Guidance on claims-made vs. occurrence, tail/prior-acts, and aligning limits with your procedures.
  • Help adding the right endorsements for MUA, in-office X-ray, or rehab programs.
  • Clear, client-friendly explanations so you know exactly what is—and is not—covered.

Call 947-274-3093 or
Fill Out the Form

Ralph Schiller

Ralph Schiller

Ralph specializes in sourcing the most suitable insurance for Chiropractors at the best price. You can call him or fill out the form and he will get your message directly.