Yes, you can add aerial yoga and paddle board yoga as premium services.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can search through our frequently asked questions below. If you still have questions, our Customer Service Representatives are eager to help.
All FAQs
Renters Insurance vs BPP
The distinction between renters insurance and Business Personal Property (BPP) is simple:
-Renters insurance covers individual personal property/liability.
-BPP covers business personal property and business interruption.
A renters policy will not cover damage or loss to any equipment used for a business.
Landlords often will confuse these terms as well so if your business rental location's landlord asks you to get renters insurance, they typically mean you need to get BPP coverage and general liability coverage.
If your home residence landlord asks you to get renters insurance, then you need to get renters insurance.
Can I add additional dance teachers to my policy?
If you employ other dance teachers you can add them to your employer policy. If you work with dance teachers that are independent contractors they must get their own individual policy.
I rent a booth in several locations, will this cover me?
You are covered everywhere you provide your services. You must be abiding by all state and local laws regarding your service. A landlord or venue might require you to add them as an additional insured.
I have a website where I provide advice, is this covered?
If the advice is located in a private area where clients are logging in to access this or receiving access through an invitation from you, the policy would be designed to respond. However, if the advice is displayed to the general public for anyone to see at any time, the policy would not be designed for this. If the latter is the case, we can recommend a legal company to help you create a website disclaimer.
Do you cover cupping?
Yes, we consider cupping to be a premium therapy which is an additional fee so be sure to select that on your application.
Are dental plans included in my membership?
We wish we could include dental plans in your membership, but what we do offer is exclusive discounts on plans from our partners. Access this benefit in your Members Only Area and save on the dental plan that is right for your needs. Rates vary in prices due to location, coverage choices and provider rates.
Can I add independent contractors that work in my salon?
No, only employees can be added to the liability policy.
How it Works!
What are the requirements?
For the membership with insurance to be valid, you must be a U.S. resident and at all times be abiding by all state and local laws regarding your specific trade(s).
We also ask that you use waivers with your clients, and we provide templates for those through our members only area for you to customize for your specific needs.
Please contact your state of employment for current laws/regulations.
Can I join and have coverage for less than a year?
No, we do not pro-rate coverage for less than one year.
How do I apply?
- Step 1: Visit www.AlternativeBalance.com
- Step 2: Click the "Buy A Policy" tab and complete the application and enter payment info.
- Step 3: Review your application
- Step 4: Click Submit to have instant proof of coverage!
It typically takes less than 5 minutes to complete. That's it! You're covered!
How do I get a quote?
We like to make the process as clear and simple as possible, so you can view our rates and pricing on our Coverage & Pricing page.
What services are covered?
We cover over 800 services under one policy! To learn more, visit Services Covered Overview.
Since we cover so many different modalities we simply group individual services under a larger trade category. Here are those trade categories;
- Acupuncture
- Aerial & AcroYoga
- Airbrush Tanning
- Animal Therapies (Includes Equine Massage, PEMF & more!)
- Ayurveda
- Barber Services
- Bio‐Feedback
- Body & Face Painting
- Body Piercing
- Bodywork (Including Reflexology and Acupressure & more!)
- Cosmetologist (Includes makeup application & more!)
- Dance (Includes Zumba, Belly Dancing & more!)
- Dog Walking
- Death Doula/EOL (No medical, consulting only)
- Doula/Birthing coach/Postpartum
- Ear Candling
- Energy Work (Including Reiki, Tai Chi, and Polarity Therapy & more!)
- Esthetician Services (Includes Microdermabrasion & more!)
- Fitness (Includes Personal Trainers, Fitness Instructors & more!)
- Health Coaching
- Herbalist (Herbal) Consultations
- Hypnotherapy
- Massage Therapy (Includes Hot Stone, Alexander Technique & more!)
- Nail Technicians (Includes Manicures and Pedicures & more!)
- Naturopathic Consulting
- Nutritionist, Nutritional Consultants, Nutritional Therapist
- Permanent Makeup
- Pet Grooming
- Pilates
- Sports Coaching & Recreational Fitness Coaches
- Tattooing
- Wellness & Life Coaching
- Yoga Teachers (including Kripalu, Hot Yoga, and Kundalini & more!)
If you do not see your specific service or trade listed here, please feel free to contact us to verify.
Application & Payment FAQs
Can my membership be pro-rated?
We do not pro-rate. All memberships are for one full year.
Do you offer payment plans?
We do not offer payment plans at this time. Full payment is due at the time of the application.
Can I purchase membership with insurance for 6 months or less?
No, the insurance and membership is for one year ONLY and cannot be pro-rated.
Why does my credit card statement show a charge from Alternative Balance or ABInsurance?
If you purchased membership/insurance with a credit card or debit card, your statement will show a charge from Alternative Balance. Depending on your merchant descriptions, it could also show several different other forms of our name abbreviated.
Can someone else pay for my membership/insurance?
Yes. Although we do welcome third-party payments, please make sure your party knows about this charge and what their statement will read (AB Insurance or Alternative Balance).
Remember, you as the policy holder are always going to be responsible for the account and policy no matter who pays. All receipts and notices will be sent directly to the email provided on the application and/or in the account.
If you are under an employer's policy, please reach out to your employer for documents.
Navigating/Using your Account
How do I retrieve my proof of insurance?
At any time, you can login to your account center. Once you are in your account, click on your most recent policy number. Then scroll down and you will see the policy documents section. Click on the document link to download.
How do I update my address?
You can update your contact information by logging in to your account, go to "My Policies", click on the most recent policy number, then scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Edit Policyholder Info".
My last name has changed. How do I change it in my account?
If your last name has changed, you will need to contact our team directly for us to update it.
How do I add CyberShield coverage or sexual abuse liability coverage to my current policy?
You can add these protection packages to your Liability policy by logging in to your account, clicking "My Policies", then click on your policy number for your liability policy. At the Endorsements/Protection Packages area of the page, click Add, make your selections, enter your payment information and click "Submit" to save your changes.
The new documents will be available in the "Policy Documents" area of the policy view.
How do I remove an additional insured from my account?
An additional insured cannot be removed from an account in case a claim is made. Additional insureds will remain for the life of the membership/policy.
Insurance Terms & Coverage FAQs
Aggregate Limit of Indemnity
This is the most the policy will pay for Accidental Death, Dismemberment and Paralysis benefits total during the policy period.
Does the insurance cover me internationally?
As a U.S. resident, your liability insurance will cover you anywhere in the world.
Professional Liability Insurance (Malpractice)
Insurance for a professional practitioner that will (1) defend suits instituted against him/her for malpractice, and (2) pay any damages set by a court, subject to policy limits.
Claims Made Coverage
A policy providing liability coverage only if a written claim is made during the policy period or any applicable extended reporting period.
Tenants’ Improvements & Betterments
Tenants' Improvements and Betterments coverage is a type of property insurance for an insured who is leasing space in a building and needs permanently installed fixtures or improvements to perform their business functions (for example, mirrors and a barre installed in a dance studio).
The tenant adds those features at their own expense. However, those fixtures or improvements become the property of the landlord unless there is a loss or damage to those improvements. In that case, the tenant is responsible for repairing or replacing those fixtures and improvements. This coverage is intended for those types of repairs and replacements.
Trade / Service Specific FAQs
Can I add coverage for additional services?
Yes, you can add coverage for additional services by clicking on your policy number in the “My Policies” section of your account center, then click “Edit”.
Make your selections and then click "Submit" to save the changes. If there is any additional fee associated with your selections, then enter your payment information before clicking "Submit."
Your policy documents will automatically update with the new information. You can download the new policy documents immediately from the "Download Options" area of the policy view.
I’m a gym owner with employees, are we all covered under my policy?
If you are a gym owner with W2 employees, select fitness or personal training then you can add your employees on to your policy any time. If you have independent contractors working for you, they cannot be added on your policy and will want to purchase their own individual coverage.
I host outings/retreats for my trade, am I covered?
During your outings/ retreats, you would be covered while providing your service/trade. However, during the off times where you are not providing your service/trade, you would not be covered (like during meal times, etc.). We recommend having your outing/retreat members sign a waiver of liability for their time during the event that holds you harmless if they get sick, hurt themselves, etc. during times that you are not providing your service/trade. You can also get separate event liability insurance if you feel you would like more protection.
Do you cover float therapy services?
Yes. We do offer coverage for float therapy. You would select water therapies on the application.
I do aerial and paddle board yoga, is this covered?
Yes, you can add aerial yoga and paddle board yoga as premium services.
Membership FAQs
Are dental plans included in my membership?
We wish we could include dental plans in your membership, but what we do offer is exclusive discounts on plans from our partners. Access this benefit in your Members Only Area and save on the dental plan that is right for your needs. Rates vary in prices due to location, coverage choices and provider rates.
Can I get group health insurance as a member?
We wish we could offer a group plan for health insurance that could fit everyone. However, what we do offer is a direct link to our partner that can design a health plan as unique as you! Access this link in your Members Only Area.
Does my membership included Disability Insurance?
Your membership does not include disability insurance. We are always communicating with the best options and partners to offer disability insurance resources to our members. You can find our current list of resources in your Members Only Area.
Does Alternative Balance offer Home/Car Insurance?
Alternative Balance does not offer home and car insurance as a member benefit. We are focused solely on providing professional and general liability to protect your business. We understand your home, car and other items need protection too, so we are continuously working with top rated local and national companies. You can find our resources in your Members Only Area.
Why are there no hourly training requirements for membership?
Because we work with over 500 trades and all 50 states, we simply cannot expect everyone to follow the same requirements, so we break it down by individual state/service. We believe this is the fairest way for our members, as one should not be required to follow another state's laws if they are not practicing there.
Claims
How do accidents and injuries affect your business?
Accidents happen – no matter how well you prepare or how much training you have, it’s just a part of life. When this happens, unfortunately attorney fees can be expensive and devastating to a small business even if that business did nothing wrong.
That high cost often translates into higher rates. Sometimes that increase is $20, while other times it’s $100. It often depends on what is happening in that specific trade in the industry. Take for example the AcroYoga industry. When one or two studios or teachers have a client fall and tear their rotator cuff, that may amount to $300,000 in medical costs, especially if surgeries are involved. Multiply that by twenty studios, and you have claims costs upwards of $6 million!
Again, this is why our approach in creating optional choices is so important. Not all services feel the rate increase. For example, massage therapists aren’t paying for an increase when claims rise for those in the pole fitness industry, and vice versa.
How do I know if my claim is approved or declined?
The claims adjuster assigned to your claim will decide if the claim is approved or declined. The adjuster decides if the claim falls within the bounds of the policy and will make a decision on what payments are appropriate. They will contact you to let you know the decision.
Where can I find claims contact information?
The claims contact information can be found in your Members-only Section under "Claims."
How do I know if an incident may be a covered claim?
Since each claim and situation is unique, we cannot speculate on if a scenario that has not happened yet would be covered.
Our coverage & cost page provides a brief break down of what limits and types of coverage are available.
What is the claims process?
We hope that you never have to report a claim, but if the time ever does come, we want you to know how to proceed. Each small step has an important purpose, so we have listed them here with explanations:
- Contact the insurer by email. If an incident occurs, contact the insurer immediately, or as soon as possible, so that the information about the incident is still fresh in your mind. Witness statements also will be more accurate the sooner they are written. Include your Policy Number and Certificate Number, and if possible include a copy of your proof of insurance (found in your account center). The insurer's claims contact information can be found in the Members-only Section under "Claims".
**If your policy was purchased before June 2017, please contact us for claims contact information. - Insurer will determine what type of claim you have. They will reply to your email to ask you some questions to identify what type of claim you have.
- Insurer will send you a claim form. Once they have determined the type of claim you have, they will send you a claim form specific to your type of claim.
- Complete the form as thoroughly as possible. Make sure to include the who, what, when, where, and why with as much detail as you can remember. The more information they have about the incident, the faster your claim can be processed.
- Send the completed form back to the insurer. This can be done by email or mail.
- Insurer will assign a claims adjuster to your claim. Once they have received the claim form, the insurer submits it to a claims adjuster who will be your point of contact for your claim.
- The adjuster will typically reach out to you within 24 hours. The adjuster will send you an email stating that they have received the claim form and that they will begin looking into the details for you.
- Adjuster decides if the claim will be approved or declined. The adjuster, at this point, decides if the claim falls within the bounds of the policy and will make a decision on what payments are appropriate.
- Adjuster lets you know the outcome of your claim. When a decision has been made about approval or denial of the claim, you will be contacted with the results. If the claim is denied, the adjuster will provide specific policy provisions that explain why the claim was denied.
Steps 1-6 can take place within a matter of a few minutes. Once the adjuster has taken control of the claim, it could take anywhere from one day to a few weeks to complete the process, depending on the severity of the incident. If you have more questions about the claims process, give us a call, and we will assist you.
Affiliate Program
How do I know I will be paid for my referral?
The program is powered by Post Affiliate Pro, the leading affiliate tracking software. Post Affiliate Pro uses a combination of cookies and IP address to track referrals for best possible reliability. When your referral purchases their ABPG membership, the affiliate system checks for the cookie (a file left on their computer that tells us they came from your link). If a cookie is not found, then our system checks for the referral's IP address and matches it to usage data connected to your affiliate link. The system then credits your account $20 for that referral.
This process is absolutely automatic through well-designed algorithms and ensures that all your referrals will be properly tracked. Affiliate cookies track referrals for 60 days, and Sponsor-level cookies track referrals for 120 days.
I do not live in the U.S. Can I join the affiliate program?
No. Unfortunately, at this time, you have to be a legal U.S. resident with a U.S. address to join the affiliate program.
Do you have any training programs for affiliates?
Yes, we provide useful tips in your affiliate panel! We also recommend reviewing the "getting started" tab in your affiliate panel right away. You can also check out our help videos on our YouTube channel.
Can I get print material with my affiliate link?
Since this is a online affiliate program and each affiliate link is custom we do not provide print material.
What do I need to become an affiliate?
Nothing! Just your desire to be an affiliate and support the industry. You don't even need a website (although having your own website helps). You can promote our product via search engines like Google, postings in internet forums, tweeting, posting links on Facebook, LinkedIn, recording videos, or simply emailing your affiliate link to all your friends and people you know.
If you do have your own website, include your affiliate link to send people to us who are looking for association membership tools, benefits, and insurance coverage for their business. All you need to do is to send a visitor to our site via your own unique affiliate link, and if they sign up as a member of Alternative Balance you will get $20!
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