# Insurance for massage therapists and massage practices in Germany

> Too much pressure on the neck, a heat pack that is too hot, a client who slips on a wet floor next to the couch: a massage practice works with bodies, heat and water. In Germany the protected title Masseur und medizinischer Bademeister needs a state permit, and self-employed massage therapists have statutory accident cover through their trade association. This page explains what else you need and what it costs.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-massage-therapist.php  
Updated: 2026-10-15

## Do I need a German permit to work as a massage therapist?

You need a permit to use the protected title Masseur und medizinischer Bademeister. Wellness massage without that title is not covered by the permit rule, but the liability risk is the same. For approval to treat patients of the statutory health funds, section 124 of the Social Code Book V asks for training, the permit, suitable premises and recognition of the framework contracts. It does not mention liability insurance, but partners, landlords and care homes almost always ask for proof.

## At a glance

- **Protected title:** Using the title Masseur und medizinischer Bademeister requires a state permit (section 1 of the Masseur- und Physiotherapeutengesetz)
- **Statutory accident insurer:** BGW; self-employed massage therapists and medical bath attendants are compulsorily insured there as business owners
- **Biggest risk:** Injuries and burns during treatment, heat and water applications
- **Basic cover from:** around 80 to 150 euros a year for professional liability in a one-person practice, a guide value from our quoting experience
- **Often forgotten:** Home visits, treatments in care homes and mobile massage at companies must be named in the policy

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Treatment injury:** Too much force on the cervical spine or a missed contraindication can damage nerves, vessels or joints.
- **Heat and water:** Mud packs, hot rolls, underwater massage and baths: burns and falls on wet tiles are typical claims.
- **Equipment:** Electrotherapy, ultrasound, motorised couches and tubs are expensive and fail after a power surge or water damage.
- **Your own hands:** Tendons, shoulders and back carry the job. If they fail, the income stops at once.
- **Health data:** Prescriptions, findings and billing data are special category data. A hacked practice system becomes expensive.
- **Disputes:** Deductions by health funds, rent disputes over the practice and questions with staff often end with a lawyer.

**Risk radar** (Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.): Liability 4, Fire and water 3, Theft 2, Cyber 2, Downtime 4, Health 5

## The insurance you need

- **Professional indemnity** (Essential): Covers bodily injury, property damage and financial loss from treatment and defends unjustified claims; partners and landlords ask for proof. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-professional-indemnity.php
- **Business liability** (Strongly advised): For claims outside the treatment itself, such as a fall in the waiting area or water leaking from a tub into the flat below; often combined in one policy. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-liability.php
- **Business contents** (Strongly advised): Replaces couches, equipment, tubs and furniture after fire, burst pipes and burglary. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Occupational disability** (Strongly advised): Massage is manual work. If your hands, shoulders or back fail, the income stops. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-occupational-disability.php
- **Electronic equipment** (Depends on the business): For electrotherapy and ultrasound units and the practice computers, including operating errors and surges. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-electronic-equipment.php
- **Business legal expenses** (Depends on the business): For disputes with landlords, staff and over deductions by health funds. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-legal-expenses.php
- **Cyber insurance** (Depends on the business): For attacks on the practice software and data breaches involving health data. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-cyber-insurance.php

## What it costs: example prices

The premium depends on the number of therapists, the treatments offered, the sum insured and whether you do home visits. Heat and water treatments raise the risk slightly.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Professional indemnity | One-person practice, no staff, 5 million euros combined limit | around 80 to 150 euros a year |
| Professional indemnity | Practice with three therapists, mud packs and baths, home visits | around 250 to 500 euros a year |
| Business contents | Furniture and equipment worth 40,000 euros | around 150 to 350 euros a year |
| Electronic equipment | Electrotherapy, ultrasound and computers worth 20,000 euros | around 120 to 300 euros a year |
| Business legal expenses | Practice with employees, employment and contract disputes | around 300 to 700 euros a year |

For comparison: Professional liability for a one-person practice costs about as much a year as five or six massages.

_All prices are guide values from our quoting experience, excluding German insurance premium tax, as of October 2026. The sources support the legal statements on this page._

- [Masseur- und Physiotherapeutengesetz, section 1](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/mphg/__1.html)
- [Social Code Book V, section 124](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_5/__124.html)
- [BGW: compulsory insurance for business owners](https://www.bgw-online.de/bgw-online-de/service/beitrag-leistung/versicherungsschutz/pflichtversicherung-fuer-unternehmerinnen-und-unternehmer-91482)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Solo** (self-employed massage therapist without staff): Professional indemnity, Business liability, Occupational disability. Together: around 100 to 250 euros a year, excluding disability cover
- **Practice** (practice with employees, mud packs, baths and equipment): Professional indemnity, Business liability, Business contents, Electronic equipment, Business legal expenses. Together: around 800 to 1,900 euros a year
- **Therapy centre** (several therapists, therapy pool and health fund approval): Professional indemnity, Business liability, Business contents, Electronic equipment, Cyber insurance, Business legal expenses. Together: individual, usually from around 2,000 euros a year

## The worst day in a massage practice

Six things that really happen in massage practices, all on one Tuesday. Tap through the day and see who pays.

- 08:10: A mud pack is too hot and the client suffers second degree burns on the back. (€6,500, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 09:40: After an underwater massage a client slips on the wet tiles and breaks a wrist. (€9,000, Paid by: Business liability)
- 11:30: After a neck massage a client reports numbness in the arm and claims damages for pain and suffering. (€15,000, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 13:15: The tub supply hose bursts and water runs into the doctor's surgery below. (€12,000, Paid by: Business liability)
- 15:00: A thunderstorm surge destroys the electrotherapy unit and the practice computer. (€5,500, Paid by: Electronic equipment)
- 17:50: A health fund deducts a quarterly amount and you object with legal help. (€2,500, Paid by: Business legal expenses)

**Damage so far:** €50,500

## Practical tips from your broker

- List every treatment: mud packs, heat, baths, electrotherapy, ultrasound and wellness massage without prescription.
- Make sure home visits, care home treatments and massage at companies are explicitly included.
- Check cover for lost keys if clients or care homes give you keys.
- Choose at least 5 million euros combined; bodily injury with lasting effects quickly becomes expensive.
- Apply for disability cover early, as previous problems with hands or back make it harder later.
- Register employees and trainees in the liability policy so their treatments are covered.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **Several insurers compared:** As an insurance broker, Norman Nammert obtains quotes from different insurers and checks that treatments, home visits and sums fit your practice.
- **Advice in English, German law:** We explain German policy wording in plain English, so you know what you are signing.
- **Family business with fixed contacts:** We have arranged insurance since 1989. Our advice is free for you, as the insurer pays our commission.

## FAQ

### Is professional liability insurance compulsory for massage therapists in Germany?

The permit for the protected title and the health fund approval under section 124 of the Social Code Book V do not list it. In practice it is essential, because partners and landlords ask for it and one treatment injury can cost more than a year's profit.

### Am I covered by statutory accident insurance as a self-employed therapist?

Yes. The BGW lists self-employed massage therapists and medical bath attendants among the business owners who are compulsorily insured with it.

### What does professional liability cost?

For a one-person practice usually around 80 to 150 euros a year, for a practice with several therapists and baths around 250 to 500 euros. These are guide values from our quoting experience.

### Is wellness massage without a prescription covered?

Only if it is named in the policy. Ask for wellness and corporate massage to be listed alongside therapeutic treatments.

### Can I get a quote in English?

We advise in English. The policy itself is usually issued in German, and we go through the key clauses with you.

### What happens if I can no longer work with my hands?

Only disability insurance helps here. The BGW pays for work accidents and occupational diseases, not for every illness.

## Request quotes

We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison, free of charge. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-massage-therapist.php#anfrage

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Your broker: Norman Nammert, trading as NAMMERT. Insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act. Broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH is a separate company. It does not arrange your contract.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.