How To Insure the Unusual

While coins, antiques and record albums may make for unusual insurables, much stranger things have wound up in policies—body parts, haunted houses and fantasy football fees, for instance. Here are nine of the strangest things that can be insured.

Soccer star David Beckham insured his legs for an astronomical $195 million in 2006. Another pair of legs famously insured: those of actress Betty Grable, covered for $1 million by 20th Century Fox in the 1940s. Lloyd’s of London, meanwhile insured Bruce Springsteen’s voice for $6 million in the 1980s.

For anyone worried they’ll have a close encounter of the third kind (alien contact), that leads to abduction (the fourth kind?) there are policies out there. Lloyd’s of London reportedly offers a policy to cover policyholders abducted by extraterrestrials.

A 12-foot-long cigar, made from some 15,000 tobacco leaves, was insured by Lloyd’s of London.

A broker group within Lloyd’s of London, the Goshawk Syndicate (now closed), insured Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in the event contestants actually won the top prizes. (When players did win the big money on the American version of the show, Goshawk filed suit with London’s high court in the year 2000, saying the game questions on the U.S. show were too easy.)

Those looking to hold a special event on their property will need to make sure they have coverage for accidents and liability. That includes staging a Halloween haunted house for visitors.

Anyone planning on hosting a birthday party at a venue and serving alcohol may need an extra policy. Special event insurance will protect policyholders from liability, should they or guests damage the property or themselves. Even if that venue is their own home, they can still purchase coverage for the party.

Does hosting a home dinner party require insurance for food poisoning? Actually, not so much. Should a meal make guests sick, homeowners insurance will likely help cover their medical bills. And if the guests sue, the same policy can go toward legal bills.

Not only does identity theft cost victims time to regain their identity, but it can also cost money. Victims can be on the hook for certain credit card charges, for instance. They can even be charged with crimes if law enforcement thinks they, rather than the identity thieves, are the perpetrators. Purchasing identity theft protection services can come with insurance to cover such costs. One service provides up to $1 million in coverage.

Hardcore fantasy football enthusiasts—those investing significant cash in the game—may need a safety net. Rotosurance can help protect that outlay. Let’s say a team’s player suffers an injury and misses at least nine games. This policy pays back most or all of a policyholder’s entry fee, depending on coverage purchased.