Event Liability Insurance.
Jiu-Jitsu Event Insurance Coverage.
What Insurance Do I Need to Host a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Event?
So, you are looking to host a Brazilian jiu jitsu event. Whether this BJJ tournament will be held at your academy or at another establishment, you will need to acquire specific insurance for this event. Jiu jitsu event insurance coverage typically consists of three parts:
General Liability Coverage to protect the venue and the combat sports promoter,
Accidental Medical Insurance that satisfies requirements of the state commissions and makes payments to participants for covered medical bills, and
Equipment Coverage, for damage to equipment used at the event.
Some insurance companies package all this coverage together. They can also be purchased separately, as needed, to customize the coverage for your jiu jitsu event. Getting the right coverage for a grappling event will protect the promoter from both competitor injury and property damage claims.
General Liability Coverage:
Venues usually only require you to have a general liability policy. Liability insurance for jiu jitsu provides coverage for suits that could arise from necessary activities performed while conducting your event, negligence claims, and coverage for the cost of investigations and defense claims for event liabilities —injury or death of spectators or volunteers, damage to the property, or host liquor liability.
General liability insurance will provide protection for the promoters, employees, staff, and volunteers against bodily injury and property damage claims; however, not all event insurance policies have liability coverage for the combat athletes who are participating in the event itself. So, if you want to protect yourself from lawsuits from event participants, you’ll want to make sure you know whether or not this coverage is included in your BJJ event policy.
After securing your general liability coverage, you will need to determine if you are going to provide insurance for the participants for injuries that may occur at your jiu jitsu event. Although some insurance companies will require the event holder to provide this coverage in order to obtain liability insurance, other insurance companies will allow the promoters to purchase general liability insurance alone. As a result, if the competitors get hurt and incur medical bills, they are responsible for paying those bills themselves.
Maybe you believe that you shouldn’t have to pay extra to cover injuries because competitors should have their own insurance. But, before you waive this coverage, check to see what the state athletic commission requires. Different states require varying levels of benefits to be paid through insurance for the protection of the competitors at certain combat events.
Spectator Liability Coverage:
Typically, combat sports event promoters try to find the lowest possible cost general liability policy for their jiu jitsu competition insurance. They can then show a certificate of insurance coverage that provides the minimum coverage needed to host their event. One way that they accomplish this is by purchasing general liability coverage for the spectators only. This protects the venue and promoter from alleged negligent injuries to spectators; however, there is no coverage for the participants. So, although this is an inexpensive way to obtain event liability insurance, it definitely leaves the event promoter exposed to financial losses resulting from participant claims.
If the promoter chooses to buy coverage that does not provide for participant injuries, they need to make sure that their state commission does not require having that medical coverage. Promoters should know that event general liability coverage that includes participant liability does not guarantee coverage to help pay for medical bills if participants get hurt at your event. Event promoters should be aware that while the venue they are renting from may only require general liability insurance for jiu jitsu, that does not mean that you do not need to have coverage in place to protect your participants. Additionally, this coverage helps protect both yourself and your event from suits arising from participant injuries.
Participant Accident Insurance Coverage:
As a promoter of supervised mixed martial arts, kickboxing, boxing, wrestling events, or other types of prize fighting, it's crucial to prioritize the safety of your participants. That's where participant accident insurance coverage comes in. Our insurance provides coverage for medical expenses up to a certain amount if a participant gets injured during the event and requires necessary medical treatment like hospital room and board, medical emergency care, outpatient diagnostic tests, and physiotherapy. In the unfortunate event of death or loss of a body part such as a hand, foot, or eye due to injury, we also provide coverage based on the type of loss suffered. Additionally, some states and venues require this type of insurance for event promoters. This insurance is essential for your participants who may need additional protection for injuries not covered by their other insurance plans. By getting participant accident insurance coverage, you can ensure the safety of your participants, comply with state and venue regulations, and ensure the success of your event.
Supplemental Medical Expense Policies:
If you are an event promoter hosting a combat sports event and want to cut costs, you do have options. If you are comfortable running your event without participant liability coverage, one step that you might take is to require that your participants enroll in their own supplemental medical expense policy. These policies meet participation requirements expected by any state athletic commission. Individual supplemental medical expense policies can be purchased for as little as $8 per month and provide competitors with insurance coverage for injuries and accidents that occur at your event. These policies also provide the policyholder with insurance coverage for the entire month. This gives an extra level of protection to players and promoters that medical expense event policies do not provide, making this option a growing trend.
If you choose to go the route of a supplemental medical expense policy, there are several ways to implement this requirement into your event. At jiu jitsu Insurance, we can help. We can enroll participants when they sign up for your event league or competition series. You could include this coverage as part of your annual membership fee or tournament cost, or use one of our many other payment options. Perhaps you’d rather just have them show proof of coverage when they register for your event. At jiu jitsu Insurance, we provide our members with special membership forms and certifications. If they do not already have coverage, just send them our way. We’ll get them enrolled ASAP.
It is important to understand your coverage options before choosing a jiu jitsu competition insurance policy. Having proper event insurance coverage can give you peace of mind, allowing you to keep your focus on the tournament. At jiujitsuinsurance.com we can help with all your BJJ tournament insurance needs. One of our agents can even assist you while you are running your event. Just give us a call!
*JiuJitsuInsurance = Supplemental injury insurance programs that pay your medical bills each time you have an accidental injury. Get your injury fixed so you can get back on the mats.
