You may assume that gym insurance is only for self-employed personal trainers and fitness instructors, but that’s simply not the case. From protecting your equipment to avoiding the fallout of sports injuries, there are several reasons why you should consider getting yourself and your belongings covered.
With insights from John Woosey, managing director and founder at Insure4Sport, here are three scenarios where you’ll be grateful you took out that insurance policy.
1. If Your Equipment Gets Lost, Damaged Or Stolen
If you’re a serious and regular gym-goer, you probably own some specialist training equipment which you take into the gym with you. From cutting-edge fitness trackers to all the exercise accessories you need for a full-body workout, before you know it, you can rack up thousands of pounds of equipment.
Gyms see hundreds of people going in and out each day, which gives plenty of scope for equipment to go missing or get damaged. It doesn’t matter whether it’s an honest mistake or someone deliberately steals your precious belongings – if you haven’t got insurance, you’ll be out of pocket.
It’s not just the gym itself that’s a risk. If you transport your equipment to and from a fitness centre by car, you should think about the security of your vehicle and the possibility of a break-in. If you don’t have a suitable cover, you’ll have to pay to replace anything stolen.
“This is why gym member insurance pays for itself,” says Woosey. “It allows you to source repairs or replacements if your equipment is stolen and damaged, helping you to carry on training in the gym with minimal disruption.”
2. If You Get Injured While Training
Even when you take the necessary precautions when you train in the gym – stretching, making sure you carry out exercises safely – injuries can happen.
Woosey notes that an injury can have a huge impact on your life and finances. “Whether it’s a back injury, a knee injury or a stress fracture of the foot, your injury might be serious enough to prevent you from working. If you’re in a job which requires being on your feet all day, this could mean lost income if you can’t work for a long period of time.”
Personal Accident cover can help you out in what could be a very difficult situation. Woosey explains: “This compensates you for broken bones, loss of sight, dental treatment, hospital admission and physiotherapy as a result of an injury you sustain at the gym. For example, if you are running on the treadmill and you misstep, badly injuring your ankle in the process. In this scenario, you could be advised not to work for a while, depending on your day job.”
Insure4Sport’s Personal Accident offering covers all of these injuries, as well as accidental death, permanent disablement and loss of limbs. There’s also Loss of Earnings cover, which will help financially support you if you’re out of action long term.
3. If You Accidentally Injure Somebody Else Or Their Equipment
Whether you’re training as part of a group or in close proximity to other gym members, it’s likely you’ll be sharing space and equipment with other people at your gym. All it takes is for you to let go of a heavy dumbbell, kettlebell or weight plate and you could hurt someone, and they may subsequently claim from you if their injuries are serious. Then there’s the risk of damage to the venue or equipment you’re using – something that’s surprisingly easy to do if you’re using heavy and complex pieces of equipment. Drop a large weight on the new gym floor and you could end up with an expensive problem.
Woosey recommends taking out insurance that covers all bases. “That’s why, as part of your gym member insurance, you need Public Liability. This protects your legal accountability if a claim is made against you because of injury to another gym member or third-party property damage.”
Insure4Sport’s gym member insurance offers a range of options to suit your needs. You can choose from up to £50,000 of Sports Equipment cover, with a maximum value for one
item of £2,500, Personal Accident cover up to £50,000, Loss of Earnings cover of up to £750 per week for up to 52 weeks, and Public Liability cover for up to £1 million, £2 million, £5 million or £10 million.
*Price based on £1 million of Public Liability cover with a 25% introductory discount.
