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ABMP AMTA FSMTA - its a little confusing

So I see there are three main organizations that I can choose from to give my membership fees to. I like the idea of belonging to a professional organization but after looking at their respective web sites I still dont know how they differ or what they stand for.

Which do you prefer and why? Also, does anyone know if any of the three have an agenda to try and increase the minimum educational requirements for entry into the massage therapy field?

Stacey

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Permalink Reply by Jed Heneberry on March 21, 2013 at 9:38am

Hi Stacey,

Let us know if we here at ABMP can answer any questions—we know it can get confusing out there! Call at 800-458-2267, email expectmore@abmp.com, or chat with us online at ABMP.com.

Click on the graphic on this page for a great place to get started and see all that our membership has to offer: http://www.abmp.com/practitioners/extensive_abmp_benefits.php.

Hope to hear from you!

Jed

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Permalink Reply by Jason Walbridge on March 21, 2013 at 11:19am

Stacey,

Hello. I'm a recent graduate of FSM in Gainesville FL. I am not sure if any of the organizations are trying to increase the educational requirements... But, I can share whom I've joined and why...

I've opted to join the FSMTA for their local support and in some cases free CEU courses. I anticipate a lot of networking opportunities with them.

I've also opted to join the AMBP - primarily due to their insurance ($6,000,000 - AMTA has the same, but it's a "group" policy.... an "aggregate" one).... What I understand that to mean is that it's possible that some money may not be available if say, a bunch of members are sued at the same time.... I'm not sure what the odds of that are.... But, with that and the amount of resources they've demonstrated so far.... I liked the ABMP over the AMTA (though, if I could justify the additional $200 a year, Id have joined them too).

The FSMTA seems to do a lot in Florida in regards to legislative - So if anyone is pushing to change educational requirements - I'd imagine it's them..... Seeing as how you're in IL..... and not FL .... I presume you mean the FSMTB and not FSMTA .... The FSMTB isn't really along the same lines as the AMTA and ABMP..... The FSMTB is the group that heads up the MBLEx.....

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Permalink Reply by Marcus Brewer on March 21, 2013 at 11:24am

I was in the same boat, reading, researching and talking to members of both associations. I was thinking about joining all of them. LOL However, it will come down to the costs. I will definitely join FSMTA. I'd like to be active in my chapter in South Florida.

When you make a decision, I'm curious to know which one you choose!

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Permalink Reply by Carrie Patrick on March 21, 2013 at 12:00pm

Basically that's right, but just to clarify, the difference is between "shared aggregate" and "individual aggregate," and the way it works is that a shared aggregate policy divides the available amount of money among all its members. So it's not so much about whether a bunch of members have a claim expense all at the same time, it's just down to how many members have a claim expense at all. So, if there's $6,000,000 available, and John Smith has a claim that costs the insurance company $10, there's now $5,999,990 available to other members. Then a month later, Jane Doe has a claim that costs the insurance company $20,000, so now there's $5,979,990 available to other members. Then two months later Fred Brown has a claim that costs the insurance company $4,000,000, so now there's $1,979,990 left for you if you need it.

With an individual aggregate policy, if you're insured for $6,000,000, the whole $6,000,000 is available for you, no matter what other claims the company paid out to other people that year. That's it in a nutshell.

Jason Walbridge said:

What I understand that to mean is that it's possible that some money may not be available if say, a bunch of members are sued at the same time....

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Permalink Reply by Jason Walbridge on March 21, 2013 at 12:06pm

Wow..... Thats a pretty big difference. Thank you for that explanation Carrie!

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Permalink Reply by Stacey Freitag on March 21, 2013 at 12:31pm

I like the AMTA because I've learned they are pushing to get massage therapy covered by insurance companies under the Affordable Care Act. That is very important to me as I am hoping to see massage therapy integrated more into main stream health care than it currently is. Accessible massage therapy covered by insurance could mean higher starting salaries for the average MT. Massage franchises would have more competition for licensed MT's, thus increasing salaries. I have not found out what the ABMP's stance on this issue is yet but more research is needed.

Thank you for pointing out the differences in insurance. That is certainly something worth considering.

Stacey

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Permalink Reply by Jed Heneberry on March 21, 2013 at 12:39pm

Stacey,

If you're interested in the Affordable Care Act and massage, this article from Massage & Bodywork is a good primer: http://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/issue/97768/55

Jed

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Permalink Reply by Stacey Freitag on March 22, 2013 at 10:11am

Thank you so much Jed for the link. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the article and am happy to see that the ABMP is knowledgeable about the topic and has a vested interest in the issue.