Top Five Strange Insurance Policies
Happy April Fool’s Day!
To celebrate, we’ve compiled a list of our top five strange insurance policies – but there’s a catch. You have to guess if they are real or fake. Answers are at the end…
1. Food stolen by a seagull
Imagine – you’re sat on a sea wall, the takeaway container resting on your legs. You open it up, greeted with the delightful sight of crispy golden chips. The person next to you has salt and vinegar on theirs. It smells like summer.
But then a burst of feathers interrupts your view. You shriek as you realise a seagull has just stolen the treasure right out of your very hands.
We’ve all been there. That’s why a food truck on the Isle of Man started selling Seagull Insurance. For a £1, you can guarantee replacement food for any items eaten by avian deviants.
2. Injury by falling coconut
Whilst there will be fewer people who have been injured by falling coconut compared to those who have been mugged by a seagull, it is still a big concern for holidaymakers in tropical regions.
It has been suggested that around 150 people die per year from falling coconuts, 15x more than those killed by sharks. Whilst this may be a myth, there was a region in Australia where local councils were reported to have been uprooting coconut trees in fear of being liable for public injury. It’s not just those seeking the sun that are worried about the mighty coconut.
3. Ghost hauntings
A lot of insurance products protect against things that aren’t necessarily material, but ghost insurance takes that idea quite seriously. Some insurance companies are reported to have provided protection against injury or death by supernatural causes.
It’s also been reported that a woman once was thrown over the stair bannisters in her home, resulting in her death. Her family claimed that it was due to the poltergeist in their home and, because the woman had taken out protection against ghosts, the insurance company paid out $100,000.
4. Chest hair
There are plenty of body parts that have been insured. Mariah Carey and Heidi Klum have famously taken out a policy for their legs. Tom Cruise, because of his insistence on completing stunts himself, has hefty insurance cover. Gene Simmons of Kiss fame had his tongue insured.
But did you know that Tom Jones is rumoured to have taken out insurance for his chest hair? There have been other celebrities who have protection against damage to their hair, but the Welsh singer may be the first to protect the hair on his torso.
5. Alien abduction
You read that right. Much like coconuts and ghosts, alien abduction insurance protects against the unforeseen, this time from outer space. Whether you’re living next to a corn field or in the middle of a city, these policies cover you in case an extraterrestrial being beams you up into their spaceship.
To make a claim, you must undertake a lie detector test and/or have a third-party witness. We wonder how much Mulder and Scully’s insurance premium was…
At Konsileo, we help businesses protect against risks – even the most unique ones. Get in touch today to find out how we can help.
ANSWERS
- REAL – read the story here.
- REAL – there have been cases where someone was hit by a coconut and their claim was successful.
- FAKE – this is pure speculation as it hasn’t been confirmed or denied by Tom Jones or his team.
- REAL – Lloyd’s have supposedly sold over 20,000 policies that include alien abduction insurance.
