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Naturally, you don’t plan on ever being named in a liability dispute. You also don’t plan on having an auto accident on your way home tonight. But you still carry auto insurance. It’s a small price to pay.

Just a few horror stories, some right from our files (names have been changed for privacy):

• A seaweed wrap that sent a woman into anaphylactic shock.
• Waxing treatments that resulted in burns and lifting skin.
• A glycolic acid facial that caused severe scabbing (and possible scarring).
• A magnifying glass that slipped and bruised a client’s eye.
• The ruined bride: Emily performed a routine pre-wedding facial on a new client. But the bride-to-be had an allergic reaction and was left with reddened, sensitive skin, preventing her from wearing makeup on her wedding day. Do you think that bride was upset? Emily was sued and the case went to trial.
• Torn: Julia had years of waxing experience. She never expected that a Brazilian gone wrong would result in stitches and ongoing medical bills for one of her clients, and a $62,500 lawsuit for herself.
• Scarred: When one of Jasmin’s regular clients had a reaction to a product, she was held liable for $145,000 in damages after the client was hospitalized and left with facial scarring.
• Steamed: Tracey’s facial steamer malfunctioned and spit boiling water during a treatment. Her client was badly burned and needed plastic surgery. Tracey was sued for $32,500, and the spa that employed her was not cooperative or willing to help.

All estheticians should have liability insurance. Many professionals who work in a spa, salon, or doctor’s office mistakenly believe the owner’s insurance covers them. Sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn’t—or it may cover only certain treatments. Perhaps you also provide treatments at your home or in the client’s home. Your employer’s coverage probably won’t apply to those. And if your employer misses a payment or allows their policy to lapse, you might not find out until it’s too late.

Even if you’re covered by your employer, a client can still file a claim against you personally (as well as against the spa, salon, or doctor). If this happens, you may be liable for your own attorney’s fees, court costs, and share of the settlement. Having your own coverage isn’t a luxury. It is absolutely vital for your protection.

• Think your employer covers you? 4 questions to ask your boss.
• Watch a 45-minute free webinar on liability issues and how to reduce your risk.

When shopping for liability insurance, it’s important to know that there are two types of policy out there: “Claims-Made” and “Occurrence Form.” Only the second type covers you for claims made at any time, even years later, as long as you had the policy when the actual incident occurred.

• Watch a 4-minute video explaining Claims-Made and Occurrence Form policies.

We’re confident that ASCP’s full package of benefits is the best available for skin care professionals. Other insurers may know next to nothing about the kind of work you do, and you may be paying too much for what you get.

With ASCP’s affordable liability protection, you’re covered no matter where you work, as long as you’re in compliance with state laws. Coverage includes disastrous product interactions (such as allergic reactions, scarring, discoloration, burns), and client accidents (for example, a client slips and falls outside your office, or a table collapses while a client is on it).

ASCP has hands-on knowledge of the profession, and in addition to insurance, you’ll also get a wide range of other benefits:

• Continuing education
• Discount programs
• Skin Deep magazine
• Client referral service
• Free website for your business
• Free promotional materials you can use
• ASCP’s Successful Business Handbook
• Responsive personal service

Annual membership at the Skin Care Professional level costs $259. Estheticians who also practice massage therapy can join both ASCP and ABMP for a single cost of $259 and receive benefits from both associations. For skin care students, two levels of student membership ($59 and $39) are available.

When you need something from ASCP—membership or career information, help on a business challenge, or a question about an insurance claim—you want to talk to a knowledgeable, caring human being. Not tomorrow, not next week, but right now. Nothing pleases our professional, friendly staff more than finding an answer to a member query. We even pay for the call. So please, call us. We’ll be delighted to talk with you.

Free phone: 800-789-0411
Free fax: 800-790-0299
getconnected@ascpskincare.com