Working in a Healthcare Setting? Why You May Still Need Your Own Insurance

“Do I still need my own liability insurance if I practice energy healing in a healthcare setting?”

Especially for practitioners working in hospitals, wellness clinics, or shared spaces, is this an important question to address. When you're part of a larger organization, it’s easy to assume the insurance that covers the business also covers you.

The quick answer? Sometimes you are covered, but more often…you aren’t.
(We know that’s not the clear, straight forward answer you may have hoped for!)

What’s the bottom line? Insurance follows your profession—not your credentials, employer, or good intentions. If you do both licensed and holistic work, you may need both malpractice for your licensed work, and professional liability for your non-licensed work to stay fully protected.

If you’re working across different occupations, you’ll likely need coverage tailored to each—not just one catch-all policy. EMPA helps practitioners sort this out so they’re protected in a way that matches their real-world work.

To see if EMPA is the right fit for you, click here to learn more.

The answer to whether or not you need liability insurance when working in a healthcare environment depends on your role, setting, and modality. We’ll walk through a few common situations to help you understand when outside coverage is still needed and how to cover all your bases.

Employer Insurance Isn’t a Catch-All

In health and wellness settings, most employer insurance policies are written for licensed healthcare services and are structured as malpractice insurance. This type of coverage is meant to protect physicians, nurses, and other licensed healthcare providers when they’re practicing within the bounds of their license.

Here’s the key distinction: while medical or other malpractice insurance is technically a form of professional liability, it doesn’t apply to the work that most energy practitioners do. Modalities like Reiki, Healing Touch, or sound healing don’t fall under licensed healthcare, which means they’re rarely included in employer-based coverage – even if you’re offering them within a licensed setting.

If you’re doing both licensed and non-licensed work, you might be partially covered, but only for the services tied to your license. Likewise, if you're a nurse and a Healing Touch practitioner, your nursing scope of practice is possibly covered under your healthcare employer's medical malpractice insurance, but your Healing Touch scope of practice is very likely not.

Your Role, Not Just Your License

Employer insurance from a medical or healthcare facility typically applies only to the specific occupation you were hired to perform within that facility - and even then you need to verify coverage, not assume it.

Similar to what we mentioned above, here is what matters: professional liability insurance is based on what activity you are performing. If you're a licensed surgeon and also a Reiki practitioner, you need medical malpractice insurance for your surgical work and professional liability insurance for Reiki. The same goes for any other combination of roles, whether licensed or non-licensed.

Different occupations require different coverage.

When Employer Coverage Might Apply

There are situations where an employer’s insurance might be offered—but it’s essential to confirm that it actually covers the activities you’re performing for that employer.

Some healthcare or wellness facilities have begun formally integrating holistic services into their offerings. If you’re employed specifically to provide one of these services, and it’s clearly written into your official job description, there’s a chance your work might fall under the facility’s insurance policy.

You'll need to verify that:

• The service you provide is listed in the scope of coverage.
• Your modality is explicitly covered under the type of policy the facility holds—again, medical or other malpractice insurance usually doesn’t apply to non-licensed, energy-based, or intuitive practices.
• The coverage includes when, where, and how you practice—including whether it applies to off-site sessions, private clients, or additional modalities you may integrate.

The bottom line: don’t assume you’re covered just because you’re on the schedule or listed on the website. Always ask for clarification, and get it in writing. If your service isn’t clearly named in the scope of insurance the facility carries, you’re likely not protected.

How to Know What Applies to You

When it comes to insurance, the details matter.

Take time to list out your services. Not just your primary modality, but everything you offer. Do you teach? Lead retreats? Blend multiple healing approaches in a session? The clearer you are about your scope of work, the easier it becomes to identify where coverage may be needed.

From there, check whether any of your services are regulated or require licensing in your state. Start local, with your city or county, then move up to the state level. Remember, some modalities, like massage or hypnosis, are licensed in certain states and unlicensed in others. That distinction can make a big difference when it comes to whether you're required to carry a license and what kind of insurance might apply.

Most importantly: don’t rely on guesswork or hearsay! “I didn’t know” isn’t a valid defense in court. This is a gentle reminder that you, as the practitioner, have a responsibility to know what’s required in your state, for the services you provide.

What's Next: How EMPA Helps You Get Covered with Confidence

If your work includes licensed services, you need malpractice insurance—whether it’s provided through your employer or secured as your own policy.

EMPA does not offer malpractice coverage for licensed services. Instead, we specialize in professional liability coverage for holistic, integrative, and energy-based services that fall outside traditional healthcare systems. For most energy practitioners, this kind of policy is essential—it travels with you anywhere in the U.S. and is designed to reflect the actual work you do!

We work with practitioners across a wide range of healing approaches. We understand that your work doesn’t always fit inside a single title or setting, and that your responsibilities may shift depending on where and how you serve.

That’s why our insurance is designed to reflect the work you do. We take time to understand your scope, your services, and your goals so you can feel confident your coverage is actually keeping up with your practice!

Whether you work in a shared space, see clients privately, teach, or do a little of everything, we’re here to help you get clear on what protections you actually need and build a strong foundation for your professional future.

You deserve to feel secure in your work! If you’re not sure what kind of coverage fits, or just want a second set of eyes on your situation, we’re happy to help.

Explore EMPA’s insurance options or get in touch with our team to learn more.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not provide legal, financial, or medical advice. The examples are general, and coverage may vary by policy. Always refer to your insurance provider or policy language for specific details, as the policy terms take precedence. For legal concerns related to your practice, consult an attorney.