{"id":5060,"date":"2026-07-27T09:30:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T16:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/?p=5060"},"modified":"2026-07-27T08:44:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T15:44:31","slug":"oddest-things-covered-by-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/car-insurance\/oddest-things-covered-by-insurance\/","title":{"rendered":"The Oddest Things Ever Covered by Insurance (and How to Make Sure You’re Covered)\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Insurance usually sounds practical. You buy auto insurance<\/a>, add homeowners or renters coverage, maybe protect a business, and move on with your day. Then you hear that someone insured a famous smile, a prize llama, a wedding cake, or a golf shot that may never happen, and suddenly the insurance world feels less like paperwork and more like a trivia night hosted by Bigfoot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is the thing, though. Weird insurance is not always as silly as it sounds. A bizarre policy can be a funny headline, but it is also a reminder that insurance is really about one question: what financial loss would hurt if something went wrong? For a singer, that might be a voice. For a food truck owner, it might be a canceled event. For a Washington homeowner, it might be a collection, a detached garage, a rare musical instrument, or the personal property that standard coverage only protects up to certain limits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Makes an Insurance Policy \u201cWeird\u201d Anyway? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A policy feels weird when the thing being protected is unusual, highly specific, or hard to price. Standard insurance policies cover common risks that many people share. Car crashes, house fires, theft, liability claims, weather damage, and business interruptions are everyday insurance territory. Specialty insurance steps in when the risk is less common, more customized, or tied to a unique financial exposure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That does not mean every strange idea is insurable. Insurers generally want three things before they write a policy. First, there has to be a real financial loss to protect against. Second, the policyholder needs an insurable interest, which means they would actually suffer financially if the covered event happened. Third, the risk has to be measurable enough for the insurer to set terms, limits, exclusions, and a premium. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why a celebrity can potentially insure a voice, but a random person probably cannot insure \u201cgood vibes.\u201d A chef\u2019s hands may be tied directly to income. A golfer sponsoring a tournament may face a real payout if someone makes a hole in one. A couple paying deposits for a wedding may lose money if a venue closes or extreme weather shuts things down. The weirdness is often just a very specific version of a normal insurance problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Body Part Insurance: When a Hand, Voice, or Leg Is Also a Paycheck <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Body part insurance is one of the most famous categories of strange coverage. Stories about singers insuring their voices, athletes insuring their legs, models insuring their smiles, and chefs protecting their hands have been floating around for years. Insurance on body parts dates back to 1920, when Ben Turpin bought a $25,000 policy on his crossed eyes through Lloyd’s of London. America Ferrera also had her smile insured for $10 million, including coverage for reasonable dental treatment costs after an accidental injury. Some of these policies are real, some are wrapped in celebrity publicity, and some are more complicated than the headline suggests. Either way, the idea behind them is not random. If a person\u2019s income depends heavily on one physical ability, losing that ability could create a serious financial hit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For most people, body part insurance is not something they will ever need. But the practical lesson is very real. Your income is often your most important asset, and it deserves protection. If you run a small business, work in a skilled trade, perform, coach, create, or rely on specialized equipment, you may have risks that standard coverage does not fully address. A contractor may need tools and liability coverage. A photographer may need equipment coverage. A fitness instructor may need business coverage that accounts for client injury risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The takeaway is not \u201cgo insure your left eyebrow.\u201d The takeaway is to ask what actually makes your income possible. Merv Hughes insured his mustache for $370,000, showing how coverage can be tailored to a personal brand and protect a livelihood. Sometimes that answer points to business insurance<\/a>. Sometimes it points to disability coverage, professional liability, equipment protection, or a better personal insurance setup. Weird policies are a reminder to protect the thing that keeps money coming in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wedding Insurance: Because Love Is Beautiful, but Deposits Are Expensive <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wedding insurance sounds less bizarre once you price a venue, photographer, caterer, dress, florist, officiant, DJ, and mountain-view reception in Washington. A wedding can involve many contracts and nonrefundable deposits. If a wildfire, windstorm, illness, venue closure, vendor no-show, or transportation issue derails the day, the emotional stress is bad enough. The financial loss can be brutal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wedding insurance can help with certain cancellation or postponement costs, depending on the policy. Some policies may also include event liability coverage, which can matter if a guest gets hurt or if the venue requires proof of insurance. Like any policy, the details matter. Cold feet are usually not treated the same as a covered venue disaster, and exclusions can be the difference between a helpful claim and an expensive misunderstanding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Washington couples, this is where \u201cquirky\u201d insurance overlaps with everyday planning. If you are hosting a backyard wedding, renting a hall, serving alcohol, or inviting a crowd,\u00a0check\u00a0your\u00a0homeowners\u00a0policy, event requirements, and liability needs before the big day. A quick review can be less awkward than explaining to your future in-laws why the rented dance floor damaged the\u00a0patio\u00a0and nobody knows who pays.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Golfer<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Hole-in-One Insurance: A Tiny Golf Ball with a Big Payout <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hole-in-one insurance is wonderfully specific. A business, charity, or tournament sponsor offers a big prize if a golfer makes a hole in one during an event. The odds are low, but the prize can be high. Instead of risking a large cash payout, the sponsor buys coverage. If someone nails the shot under the policy rules, the insurer helps cover the prize. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a great example of how insurers evaluate risk. They look at details such as the number of golfers, the distance of the hole, the value of the prize, whether the attempt is supervised, and what proof is required. The policy is not simply \u201cgolf magic happened, please pay.\u201d It is built around defined conditions and documentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Event Cancellation Insurance: Not Weird When the Weather Has Other Plans <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Event cancellation insurance can sound like something only celebrities, sports leagues, or mega-festivals need. It can matter for conferences, concerts, charity runs, fairs, trade shows, food events, school fundraisers, and community celebrations. Washington weather can be charming, dramatic, and occasionally rude. Smoke, storms, flooding, power outages, transportation problems, or venue issues can turn a planned event into a logistical mess. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This coverage may help protect event organizers from certain financial losses when a covered cause forces cancellation, postponement, interruption, or relocation. It may also work alongside liability coverage, property coverage, liquor liability, or vendor requirements. The right setup depends on the event, location, attendance, contracts, and what could realistically go wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celebrity Specialty Coverage: Publicity Stunt or Real Insurance Company Risk Management? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Celebrity insurance gets the headlines because it is easy to laugh at a million-dollar smile or a famous pair of legs. But celebrity specialty coverage often sits at the intersection of brand value, contracts, tours, endorsements, and lost income. If an actor cannot finish filming, a musician has to cancel shows, or a sponsored athlete cannot perform, many people and businesses can lose money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regular people have a version of this, too. Maybe your \u201ccelebrity asset\u201d is not a voice that sells out arenas. Maybe it is a work vehicle, a laptop full of client files, a trailer, a commercial kitchen setup, or inventory for a weekend market. If losing it would interrupt your income, it deserves more attention than \u201cI think my regular policy handles it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alien Abduction Insurance: Yes, It Exists (Claims Department Not Included) <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Alien abduction insurance is real in the sense that novelty policies have been sold to people who want proof that their sense of humor has excellent paperwork. These policies often promise a payout if the insured person can prove they were abducted by extraterrestrials. As you can imagine, the proof requirement is doing a lot of heavy lifting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is this practical coverage for most Washington residents? Not really. But it is a hilarious way to understand a serious insurance principle: claims need evidence. Whether you are talking about aliens, auto damage, a stolen bike, or a damaged roof, insurers review documentation. They may ask what happened, when it happened, whether the loss is covered, what exclusions apply, and whether the amount claimed matches the policy terms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why it helps to keep receipts, photos, appraisals, repair records, and policy documents organized. If you ever have a claim, documentation can make the process smoother. Even if your biggest risk is a coffee spill in traffic rather than a close encounter, the same logic applies. For a more earthbound example, read about coffee and accidents<\/a> before balancing a latte near your cupholder like it is a circus act. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paranormal, Haunted House, and \u201cGhost\u201d Coverage <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ghost coverage is one of those insurance ideas that sounds like it belongs in a campfire story. Some unusual policies have been marketed around haunted attractions, paranormal tourism, or lost income tied to spooky incidents. A historic inn, ghost tour, escape room, haunted house attraction, or themed event may not be buying \u201cghost insurance\u201d exactly as the headline describes it. More often, the real need may involve general liability, property coverage, special event coverage, workers\u2019 compensation, or business interruption concerns. Businesses running haunted inns, tours, or attractions may be especially focused on protecting customers and employees if someone is injured during an unusual event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Animal Insurance: From Prize Livestock to Very Important Llamas <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pet insurance for dogs and cats is common enough now that it barely counts as weird. But specialty animal coverage can get much more interesting. Racehorses, show cattle, breeding animals, service animals, zoo animals, and valuable exotic animals may be insured because they represent real financial value. If an animal is part of a business, competition, farm, breeding program, or performance, the loss can be more than sentimental. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For everyday pet owners, pet health insurance may help with veterinary expenses. For people earning income from animals, the conversation may include property coverage, liability, mortality coverage, farm insurance, or business coverage. The weird part is the animal. The normal part is protecting against a financial loss you can clearly explain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collectibles, Pet Rocks, and the Stuff You Swear Is Valuable <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Collectibles are where odd insurance becomes very practical. Coins, stamps, jewelry, sports memorabilia, comic books, instruments, art, rare books, trading cards, firearms, fossils, crystals, and yes, even unusually valuable rocks can raise coverage questions. A homeowners or renters policy may cover personal property, but it can also have limits, exclusions, deductibles, and special caps for certain categories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is where scheduled personal property, endorsements, floaters, or separate collectible policies can come in. Insurers may ask for appraisals, photos, receipts, serial numbers, storage details, or proof of ownership. They may also care whether the item is kept at home, safe, at a storage unit, in transit, or displayed at events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a huge takeaway for Washington homeowners and renters. Do not wait until after a theft, fire, or water damage claim to learn that your favorite collection was underinsured. Review your homeowners insurance<\/a> and ask how valuables are handled. If you love thinking about life\u2019s many \u201cwhat could go wrong?\u201d moments, our Game of Life insurance<\/a> breakdown is right in that lane. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Stamp<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

How Insurers Decide Whether a Weird Risk Can Be Covered <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Insurers do not price specialty coverage by throwing darts at a wall, even if some policies sound like they were invented during a very strange lunch break. Lottery win insurance, for example, is a niche form of business coverage that helps with the cost of hiring and training replacements if multiple employees quit after a big win. They look at exposure, probability, severity, past loss experience, documentation, moral hazard, legal requirements, and whether the person requesting coverage has an insurable interest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exposure means how much risk exists. A one-day golf tournament has a different exposure than a yearlong national contest. Probability means how likely the covered event is to happen. Severity means how expensive the loss could be. Multiple birth insurance is designed for unexpected expenses when twins or triplets arrive. Documentation helps prove the value of the asset and the facts of a claim. Moral hazard asks whether the policy could encourage risky or dishonest behavior. Insurable interest asks whether the policyholder would genuinely lose money if the thing happened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why a collector can insure a rare guitar they own, but cannot usually insure a stranger\u2019s guitar just because they admire it. It is why a business can insure a promotional prize, but must follow the policy rules. It is why a homeowner may need an appraisal for jewelry or art. In the insurance industry, coverage works best when the risk is real, the value is clear, and the coverage terms match the exposure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What \u201cWeird\u201d Insurance Can Teach You About Normal Coverage <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The funniest policies are useful because they expose a serious truth: most coverage problems happen in the gaps. People often assume \u201cfull coverage\u201d means everything is covered, but that phrase can be misleading. It usually refers to a combination of coverages on an auto policy, not a magic shield against every possible loss. If you want the non-mystical version, read what full coverage really means<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same goes for homeowners, renters, and business policies. A standard policy may not automatically cover a home-based business, expensive collectibles, flood damage, certain events, rideshare use, delivery driving, high-value equipment, or every type of liability claim. Even travel insurance can include odd rules around evacuation, delay, or being unable to continue a trip. That is why it helps to review common insurance coverage gaps<\/a> before a claim reveals them the hard way. It is also worth remembering that ignoring your policy can have consequences<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related Reads for the Insurance-Curious <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you enjoy the odd side of coverage, you may also like our guide to curiosities of car insurance in Washington<\/a>, our surprisingly useful reminder that you can bundle your policies<\/a>, our list of times superheroes could have used insurance<\/a>, and our very scientific (not actually scientific) insurance horoscopes<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make Sure Your Everyday (and Slightly Unusual) Stuff Is Covered <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You probably do not need alien abduction coverage. You may not need to insure your hands, your fantasy football lineup, or your lucky fishing hat either. But you might need better coverage for your car, home, business, collection, equipment, side hustle, event, or personal property. Your best bet is reviewing your policy before other things go wrong instead of guessing after the fact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vern Fonk is a company that helps Washington residents access practical coverage options for the normal stuff, the expensive stuff, and the \u201cI did not know I should ask about that\u201d stuff. Our team can help you look at your current coverage, spot possible gaps, and find practical options for your life, whether you are in Seattle, Spokane, Snohomish, Tacoma, Vancouver, or somewhere nearby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call Vern Fonk at (800) 455-8276<\/a> or request a quote online<\/a> to get started. We will help you sort through the essentials, explain what your policy does and does not cover, and give you more peace, while helping you save money where appropriate and understand who is responsible for different types of losses before life gets weird. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

FAQs About Weird and Specialty Insurance <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What are the weirdest things insured? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some of the weirdest things reportedly insured include celebrity voices, legs, smiles, hands, prize animals, wedding events, golf tournament prizes, collectibles, haunted attractions, fantasy sports risks, and novelty alien abduction policies. The strangest examples usually have a practical reason underneath: someone could lose real money if that specific thing is damaged, lost, canceled, or no longer usable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you insure a body part? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In certain cases, yes. Some celebrities have even insured highly specific features, such as Gene Simmons\u2019s tongue or, in rare publicity-driven cases, chest hair. Body part insurance is typically associated with entertainers, athletes, chefs, models, or other professionals whose income depends on a specific physical ability or feature. For most people, disability coverage, business insurance, equipment coverage, or professional liability may be more realistic and useful than insuring a single body part. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is alien abduction insurance real? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Alien abduction insurance has been sold as a novelty policy, but it is not practical coverage for most people. Some novelty policies may mention death or disability caused by extraterrestrials, but the claim rules are usually extremely narrow. The bigger lesson is that insurance claims require proof. Whether the claim involves a stolen item, damaged vehicle, canceled event, or extremely suspicious spaceship situation, documentation and policy terms matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is specialty insurance? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Specialty insurance is coverage designed for risks that do not fit neatly into standard policies. It may apply to unusual assets, high-value items, events, professional risks, businesses, collections, promotions, or unique liability exposures. Specialty coverage is often more customized, and insurers may ask for more details before offering terms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can collectibles be insured under homeowners insurance? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some collectibles may be covered under homeowners or renters insurance, but coverage can be limited. High-value items may need to be scheduled separately or covered through an endorsement, floater, or separate collectible policy. If you own valuable items, keep appraisals, receipts, photos, and an updated inventory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Insurance usually sounds practical. You buy auto insurance, add homeowners or renters coverage, maybe protect a business, and move on with your day. Then you hear that someone insured a famous smile, a prize llama, a wedding cake, or a golf shot that may never happen, and suddenly the insurance world feels less like paperwork and more like a trivia […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5673,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5060","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-car-insurance","category-homeowners-insurance"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5060","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5060"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5060\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5677,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5060\/revisions\/5677"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5673"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernfonk.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}