We are always hearing about traditional insurance policies ranging from auto to life but let us spice it up a bit and talk about some untraditional policies.
Although many companies tend to avoid unique risks, do not fret there is still a chance strange circumstances can be accommodated.
Here are ten things you probably were not aware you could get coverage for:
- Crossed eyes: Silent film actor Ben Turpin became the first celebrity to insure a body part, taking out a $25,000 policy that would pay if his eyes ever uncrossed.
- Space risks: In 2004, the first commercial spacecraft to leave earth’s atmosphere Space Ship One was covered by Lloyd’s for over $100 million. Risks from space don’t only cover travelling – some policies have been taken out to include possible injury by falling space debris.
- Nose: Ilja Gort a Dutch winemaker who owns the famous Chateau de la Garde in Bordeaux insured his nose for $8 million. Gort isn’t allowed to take part in winter sports, boxing or, rather more strangely, fire breathing as a result of his policy.
- Moustache: An Australian cricket player Merv Hughes insured his moustache after giving it credit for forming a large part of his celebrity identity.
- Sport trauma: English soccer player Paul Hucker insured himself for potential physiological trauma he would suffer if his team were knocked out of the 2002 World Cup earlier than expected.
- Immaculate conception: (Yes, really) In 1999 a woman named Mary Murphy insured herself against immaculate conception for £1 million.
- Alien abduction: Across the US people have been insuring against alien abduction, with more than $10 million in insurance written so far.
- Loss of humor: Rich Hall insured himself against the permanent loss of humor for £1 million – potentially difficult to prove.
- Becoming ugly: Nicola Jones took a policy out for the instance where she became ugly. The approximate payout has yet to be established.
- Taste buds: Once famous food critic Egon Ronay insured his taste buds for $400,000 after publishing the first edition of his book Egon Ronay Guide to British Eateries.
