Why athletic trainers need their own liability insurance
Athletic trainers often work in schools, sports clinics, or with professional teams, making split-second decisions about injuries, rehabilitation, and return-to-play. A misjudgment—like clearing an athlete too early or missing a concussion sign—can lead to a lawsuit alleging negligence or failure to diagnose. Even if you're covered by your employer's policy, that coverage typically protects the institution first, not you personally. It may also exclude license defense costs, which can run tens of thousands of dollars. A personal professional liability policy fills these gaps and travels with you between jobs, settings, and even into telehealth appointments.
CM&F Group, which has insured clinicians since 1947, offers athletic trainers up to $1 million per claim / $6 million annual aggregate on an occurrence form. That means you're covered for incidents that happen while the policy is active, even if a claim is filed years later—no tail needed. Their policy includes license defense coverage and is portable, so you keep protection whether you're working at a high school, a hospital, or on your own as a contractor. Instant quotes and same-day coverage are available.
How much does athletic trainer liability insurance cost?
For athletic trainers, annual premiums typically range from $100 to $350, based on industry estimates for allied health professionals with similar risk profiles. For reference, physical and occupational therapists often pay between $100 and $350 per year, while registered nurses average $100–$150. Actual pricing depends on your state, work setting, claims history, and coverage limits. CM&F provides a competitive rate for individual athletic trainers, but you'll need to get a quote for an exact figure. Group or clinic policies may have different pricing.
What employer coverage often misses
Employer policies are designed to shield the organization. If you're named individually in a lawsuit, you may be left to fund your own defense. License defense—critical if a state board investigates your credentials—is rarely included in employer plans. A personal policy from carriers like CM&F, HPSO, or Berxi covers these costs. Berxi, backed by Berkshire Hathaway, offers both occurrence and claims-made forms with defense costs outside the limit ($0 deductible) and reputation coverage. HPSO has protected healthcare professionals for over 40 years and provides up to $25,000 in license defense reimbursement.
Choosing the right policy
For athletic trainers who change jobs or work multiple gigs, an occurrence policy is generally the safest choice—no tail cost when you leave. Claims-made policies are cheaper upfront but require a tail (typically 1.5–2 times the annual premium) to cover future claims. Look for a policy that includes license defense, telemedicine coverage, and high enough limits (most athletic trainers choose $1M/$6M). For more comparisons, see our carrier comparison hub or read our guide on how much coverage you need.
For athletic trainers, an occurrence policy is usually the better fit. You might work at a school for a few years, then move to a clinic or start a private practice. With occurrence coverage, you're protected for any incident that happened while the policy was active, even if the lawsuit comes years later—no need to buy tail insurance. Claims-made policies would require you to purchase a tail (often 1.5–2 times your annual premium) when you leave, which adds unexpected cost.