Have you ever been concerned about the constant threat posed by alien abduction? Maybe you’re worried about the potential loss of one of your most treasured body parts. Whatever your worries may be, chances are that there is an insurance policy available to cover them and if not, an innovative insurer might just be willing to create one. Here are nine of the strangest insurance policies ever recorded.
1. Alien Abduction
First introduced in 1987 by the St Lawrence Agency of Altamonte Springs in Florida, other underwriters have now joined this peculiar bandwagon and alien abduction insurance is now widely available. To date, over 20,000 people across the globe have purchased the cover which can be extended to include internal examination or probing and alien impregnation. Men can also purchase the impregnation cover because alien capabilities are essentially unknown… Simon Burgess, a Lloyds underwriter who was at the forefront of the inception of alien abduction cover states that the burden of proof lies with the policyholder but to date, it is known that at least two claims have been paid. The truth, is out there.
2. Crossed Eye Insurance
The concept of bizarre insurance policies certainly isn’t a new phenomenon and Lloyds of London have been providing cover for body parts since the early part of the 20th century. One of their more notable policies covered the famous silent film actor Ben Turpin. Turpin’s trademarks were his remarkable crossed eyes which made him such a distinctive character from the early days of celluloid and he was obsessed that they would become uncrossed. It is claimed that he would immediately rush to a mirror after taking a blow to the head and ultimately Lloyds agreed to provide $25,000 worth of cover for such an eventuality.
3. Hole in One insurance
Prize Indemnity policies are also widespread and this is one of the most common. The cover can work in two ways and in the first example, a sponsor offers a prize for a hole in one in a major golf tournament (usually a car) and the policy pays out if that prize is claimed. Alternatively, the amateur golfer can also purchase this cover which will pay for a round of drinks in the club bar if they score a hole in one on their round. That’ll be 200 pints of Guinness please barman.
4. Cow Dehydration
Another policy with a bizarre name but this one covers a serious problem in certain parts of the world. The cover is particularly popular in Kenya where farmers are consistently losing their cattle to the harsh droughts that blight the country. The problem has existed for centuries but with the benefit of satellite mapping as proof of a claim, it is now possible for those farmers to insure their cattle with the potential reimbursement of around $150 a cow.
5. A different spin on life insurance
We’re all familiar with the concept of standard life insurance which pays a certain sum on death but some creative underwriters have turned this principle on its head. Now you can insure yourself in the event of you reaching a certain age and typically, they start paying out once you reach 85. In a sense this is completely logical and the intention is to help you pay the bills when you’re too frail or ill to work. As a downside however, if you manage to live to 100 then the payments will cease so it’s back to searching through the job classifieds.
6. Roll a dice indemnity
This is another policy issued in the event of someone winning a major prize and it was frequently taken out at village fetes and events across the UK. The event in question asked the participant to roll a dice six times and if a six showed on each occasion then they won. Sounds unlikely, doesn’t it? In reality, insurers were paying out a little too much for comfort and changed the rules so that you now have to roll seven sixes before any claim kicks in.
7. Moustache Insurance
Some of these bizarre policies can be tailor made for the customer and such a bespoke cover was once arranged for the Australian cricketer Merv Hughes. Possessor of some luxurious facial furniture, Hughes’ moustache became his trademark and it was part of the bravado that struck fear into the hearts of batsmen. The ‘tache in question was insured for a cool 370,000 Aussie dollars but no-one seems too clear of the circumstances in which he would have been paid out. This generally means that the whole affair was one big publicity stunt.
8. Rapture insurance
This may not be insurance in the truest sense and you certainly won’t find those who provide it being governed by any worthy legislation, but in a sense you are paying a premium for a form of cover – albeit in a very loose sense. In the event of the rapture, those called up to heaven are given the option to send e-mails, six days after the event to those non-believers in the attempt to save loved ones. For a one-off $14.95 the automated system will send these messages and if anyone is alive to read them, they may just have a final opportunity to repent and join you upstairs. Decent value, considering it’s the end of the world.
9. Rapture insurance for pets
The whole mechanics of the rapture are open for debate and discussion, and one particular grey area regards our pets. Rest assured however that a group of atheists in the US will take care of them if you are called up and they are left behind. However, there is a school of thought suggesting that the earth will be one of pestilence and suffering by then so supplies of tinned animal food may be rather scarce.
Author Bio: The post was written by David Lewzey of mortgage protection insurance specialists Helpucover, who also offer pet, redundancy and income protection insurance. Visit them at http://www.helpucover.co.uk/. Helpucover is a trading name of Pinnacle Insurance plc.