In America and Europe insurers offer up to 3000 insurance products, among which literally fantastic types of insurance.
London Goodfellow Rebecca Ingrams Pearson (GRIP) has sold almost four thousand devout girls policies of insurance against immaculate conception. The annual payment under such policy has made 150 dollars. In case of such an insurance event the company will be obliged to pay 1.5 million dollars to "victim".
The American agency Encore Entertainment Insurance Service insures its clients against risk of "moral degradation". Moral in America is highly prized and celebrities whose reputation may suffer from any “screwup” quite often use such services.
Lloyd’s corporation accepts risk of death as a result of falling to the Earth of Russian satellite.
In Russian company VEStA clients asked to insure them against aliens visiting. The clients were refused because of impossibility to license such kind of activity.
Though abroad, GRIP sells insurance from kidnapping by aliens. Those who do not want to risk with spiteful aliens were not a few – nearly 20 thousand of such policies were sold.
In Russia with unusual types of insurance everything is much easier. According to experts of VEStA company to the unusual insurance agreements belongs insurance of famous Russian traveler Fedor Konyukhov during his round-the-world race by yacht and Parisian vaudeville tour in Moscow (this is not the aliens but something).
A Human being shows great inventive power in insurance tools using. In Lloyd’s records there are many curious insurance events connected with it.
The host of one Italian bistro in London in advertising purposes has ordered his wax copy sitting at the table with a glass in hand by Madame Tussauds. He liked the doll so much and decided to take it with him on exhibition to Denmark. He has not only insured a mannequin on 2500 pounds for the period of transportation and exhibition having paid a premium in 5 pounds but also bought a separate flight ticket near his place in the plane. Insurance compensation under this policy was not paid but there was a lot of pleasure.
The widespread practice is insurance of possible consequences at carrying out of various shows and attractions. The first supersonic automobile was insured in Lloyd’s. The policy included coverage of all risks while transportation of race car to Nevada and during its stay at the range as well as insurance of pilot upon accident. It’s interesting that insurance covers only vehicle with dead engine. Thus the insurer relieved itself of responsibility for doubtful experiments with overspeed.
Famous circus promoters Rilnlins brothers have insured elephant and rhinoceros participated in their show upon death and disability. Here is an example of careful relation to employees and home businessmen!
Perhaps, the most interesting case is insurance of La Manche next crossing. The crank has decided to swim across the channel in bath having preliminary insured himself on 100 thousand pounds. Lloyds’ underwriter has accepted this risk with a condition that a drain hole will be closed by plug.
Famous people like to be insured most of all. The list of Lloyd’s is full of celebrities Gene Kelly, Mae West, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Edward Robinson, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Laurence Olivier and many others are in this list. South African actress Kerry Wallis forced to shave her head for Startrack has been insured in Lloyd’s against her hair never will grow again after this procedure.
Rock idols are in this list too. Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Bob Dylan, Michel Jackson, Billy Joel, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart, Dire Straits, Duran Duran, The Beatles, Erasure, The Eurythmics, Genesis, The Kinks, Led Zeppelin, The Police, Status Quo, The Rolling Stones, The Who – none of these people subverting the bourgeois and puritanical moral has not ignored this quite bourgeois tool.
It is also registered the insurance event with Bruce Springsteen: the singer has estimated his voice in 3.5 mln pounds.
In general, insurance of the unique human abilities especially giving their owners earnings turns into a daily practice. Whisky’s blenders and perfume experts insure their noses, food experts – gustation. The most extravagant insurance events are connected with products marketing where insurance protects from marketing methods fraught with negative consequences.
The aspiration of British to different kinds of gambling events is so strong that Lloyd’s has developed a special insurance policy for employer’s insurance in case of firing of two or more employees won in a national lottery. Under this policy the insurer covers to the employer expenses for recruit agencies service.
A number of unusual insurances is connected to business, and some of them from exotic turn to usual practice. In the register there are insurances covering entrepreneur’s expenses on audit services in case if regulating bodies will choose his company for such control. Firstly unique insurance events of banks against fraud by traders and brokers after tricks of dealers of Barings and Sumitomo become a rule.
Swedish company Bisso has offered its clients an absolutely new service. In addition to usual motor hull insurance drivers may receive completely new opportunities: only for 850 krone (USD 112) a driver gets an insurance against fine for overspeed if it was not more than on 30 km/h. Also, for the additional price the drivers may be insured against fines for wrong parking. Unfortunately, insurance covers only fines and the risk for fans of fast driving to loose a driver’s license still exists.
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