Demand for applied behavioral analysis (ABA) continues to accelerate in 2026. More families are seeking services, more states are expanding access, and more practice owners are hiring aggressively to keep up. Growth is encouraging. It is also complex.
As teams expand, so does exposure. The right ABA liability insurance strategy must evolve alongside your staffing model.
How do ABA providers insure a growing team of therapists in 2026? The answer begins with recognizing that scaling clinical services, especially in-home services, immediately changes your liability, supervision, and employment risk profile.
Insurance is not just compliance. It is infrastructure for safe growth.
Why Staffing Growth Changes Your ABA Risk Profile
ABA therapists deliver services inside clients’ homes rather than in controlled clinical environments. They work in living rooms, kitchens, backyards, and community settings. That reality matters from a risk standpoint.
As your team grows, you are not just adding clinicians. You are multiplying:
- Service locations
- Supervision relationships
- Documentation responsibilities
- Family interactions
Each therapist must consistently implement behavior plans, accurately collect data, and communicate clearly with caregivers. Treatment fidelity becomes harder to maintain when onboarding large numbers of RBTs at once.
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board® outlines supervision and scope-of-practice standards that require consistent oversight. As caseloads expand, the margin for supervision gaps narrows. A missed parent update, unclear protocol adjustment, or documentation lapse can lead to allegations of negligence.
There is also general liability exposure inside client homes. Consider scenarios such as:
- A therapist accidentally damages property while rearranging a learning space
- A sibling suffers an injury during a session
- A caregiver alleges improper redirection techniques
The more homes your staff enters each week, the greater the statistical likelihood of an incident.
Comprehensive ABA liability insurance protects the organization when claims arise from employee actions, clinical decisions, or supervision responsibilities. As headcount increases, reviewing limits and policy structure becomes essential.
How ABA Liability Insurance Protects a Growing Clinical Team
Many owners assume their policies automatically cover new hires. In most cases, carriers include employees who act within the scope of their duties.
However, policies often require accurate payroll reporting and notification of staffing changes.
Rapid hiring without updating your carrier can create unintended gaps.
Professional liability coverage typically responds to allegations involving:
- Treatment plan implementation
- Supervision decisions
- Parent training guidance
- Data collection errors
As you expand, coverage limits that worked for a small team may no longer be sufficient. A single serious claim can involve defense costs, expert witnesses, and settlement exposure that exceed outdated limits.
Scaling responsibly means reviewing:
- Per-claim and aggregate limits
- Employee classification accuracy
- Hired and non-owned auto exposure for travel between homes
Insurance should grow at the same pace as your clinical footprint.
Workers’ Compensation Risks Unique to ABA Providers
ABA therapists perform physically demanding work. Sessions often involve floor-based therapy, lifting younger children, managing elopement behaviors, and responding to unpredictable movements.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthcare and social assistance workers experience elevated rates of workplace injury compared to many other industries. In-home ABA falls squarely within that category.
Typical workers’ compensation exposures include:
- Musculoskeletal injuries from repetitive bending or lifting
- Injuries from client aggression, including bites or strikes
- Slip-and-fall injuries inside client homes
- Auto accidents while traveling between appointments
Workers’ compensation laws, overseen at the state level and guided by standards, require coverage to begin immediately upon hire in most states. As staffing increases, proper payroll classification and safety protocols become critical. Misclassification can lead to premium audits and penalties.
Proactive risk management, including training on safe lifting techniques and de-escalation strategies, helps reduce claims frequency. Protecting your clinicians protects your business continuity.
Staffing Smart Means Insuring Ahead of Growth
ABA workforce expansion will continue as demand rises and treatment models incorporate telehealth, parent coaching, and technology-supported data tracking. Growth is positive, but exposure scales with it.
Each new hire increases professional liability, employment obligations, and injury risk. Insurance should be reviewed before onboarding your next wave of clinicians, not after a claim surfaces.
At Olson Duncan Insurance, we specialize in protecting ABA providers nationwide. We understand the realities of in-home service delivery, supervision demands, travel exposure, and workforce scaling.
If your team is growing in 2026, now is the time to review your ABA liability insurance and workers’ compensation program. Contact us to ensure your coverage supports your next phase of growth.
FAQ for Growing ABA Teams
Are new ABA employees automatically covered under my policy?
Often, yes, if they are correctly classified and reported. Always notify your carrier when staffing levels increase significantly.
Does professional liability cover parent training and supervision?
In most well-structured policies, supervision and clinical oversight fall within professional services. Accurate documentation remains essential to defense.
Why does workers’ compensation cost increase as I hire more therapists?
Premiums are based mainly on payroll and job classification. More employees performing physically demanding work increases exposure and premium calculations.
About Olson Duncan
Established in 1945, Olson Duncan Insurance has more than 70 years of experience serving the insurance and risk management needs of California residents and businesses. During our seven decades, we’ve earned the trust of our clients and the outstanding reputation of professional integrity by consistently offering individuals and businesses quality insurance products at fair, competitive prices, backed by exceptionally responsive service.