Alien abduction insurance

{{ufology}}
'''Alien abduction insurance''' is insurance covering people against [[alien abduction|abduction by aliens]], to provide a cash payment, and cover costs arising from any abduction.

It is an example of niche insurance, where companies offer policies covering unlikely or specific events.<ref>{{wpa|Niche insurance}}</ref> A number of other equally unlikely things can also be insured against, including ghosts and werewolves, if you can find a willing insurance company.

==Profiteers==
Lloyds of London, one of the world's oldest and most famous insurance markets, claims to have 20,000 policies against alien abduction.<ref name=sunlife>[https://web.archive.org/web/20191225073504/https://www.sunlife.co.uk/blogs-and-features/10-most-unusual-insurance-policies/ 10 most unusual insurance policies], Sun Life blog, 2 February 2015</ref> In 2000 ''[[The Telegraph]]'' newspaper reported that 37,000 people were insured against alien abduction.<ref name=telegraph2000/>

The insurance company Goodfellow, Rebecca, Ingrams and Pearson Ltd (GRIP) reportedly earned GBP 4 million from offering alien abduction insurance.<ref name=telegraph2000>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/4456101/Do-you-really-need-alien-insurance.html Do you really need alien insurance?], The Telegraph, 28 June 2000</ref><ref name=sfgate/>

A Florida company, UFO Abduction Insurance Co, introduced policies in the late 1980s, offering a policy with US$10 million for $19.95; it reportedly covered you for "[[psychiatric]] care and [[sarcasm]] protection".<ref name=sfgate/> Their product appeared to be designed as a humorous item or gag gift, with their application form asking questions including "Do you take this seriously?"<ref name=sfgate/> However, other companies are less keen on letting punters in on the joke.

One of the obvious problems is that in order to claim, you would have to prove that you (or the person insured) were abducted by aliens, rather than disappearing for some other reason.

==Tragedy==
The [[Heaven's Gate]] cult reportedly took out a GRIP policy costing US$1000 on its members which would pay out $1m each in the event of alien abduction; 39 later committed [[suicide]] hoping to be [[Resurrection|resurrected]] by aliens. The policy did not pay out. GRIP temporarily suspended sales in the aftermath; it appears this was due to worries about having to pay out rather than concern over the [[death]]s.<ref name=sfgate/><ref name=mjwayland>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170903055253/http://mjwayland.com/alien-abduction-insurance-scam/ The Alien Abduction Insurance Scam], MJ Wayland, August 16, 2015</ref> The insurers were apparently seriously worried by the prospect that the policy could be claimed upon, as a jury in a subsequent court case could conceivably decide they were abducted by aliens. As it happened, the inquest was clear that the cause of death was suicide, which GRIP took as justification not to pay out.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/cult-insured-against-aliens-1276075.html Cult insured against aliens], The Independent, 30 March 1997</ref>

==Fakery==
The only apparent claim under alien abduction insurance was made in 1996. However it has been variously described as a "publicity stunt" and "[[scam]]".<ref name=sfgate/><ref name=mjwayland/> Joe Tagliarini aka Joseph Carpenter, a part-time electrician, claimed to have been abducted by aliens in England, and produced photographs and what was claimed to be a transparent alien claw as evidence. GRIP proudly announced the claim and Gillian Anderson, who played an investigator of unexplained phenomena including UFOs in the TV series ''[[The X-Files]]'', was engaged to present him with a cheque. It emerged that Simon Burgess of GRIP had been colluding with Tagliarini and Carpenter: the whole thing was a fake, and no payment was made.<ref name=sfgate/><ref name=mjwayland/><ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/aliens-leave-no-claims-bonus-untouched-1315012.html Aliens leave no claims bonus untouched], The Independent, 18 December 1996</ref>

==Other niche insurance==
===Ghost insurance===
An English hotel owner reportedly obtained insurance against guests being killed or injured by a [[ghost]].<ref name=sunlife/>

===Werewolf and vampire insurance===
Lloyds of London also provides coverage against being attacked by a [[werewolf]] or [[vampire]].<ref name=sunlife/>

===Virgin birth insurance===
{{main|Virgin birth}}
Another reported wacky insurance is against conceiving without having [[sex]].<ref name=sfgate>[https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Don-t-sweat-alien-threat-3063424.php Don't sweat alien threat], SF Gate, October 18, 1998</ref> British insurance firm Britishinsurance.com, based in Braintree, Essex, insured 3 women from Inverness, [[Scotland]] for GBP 1 million each to cover the cost of raising a child, charging 100 pounds per year from 2000 to 2006. Eventually they cancelled the policy after receiving complaints, and claimed the premiums had been donated to [[charity]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/5105946.stm Sisters lose second coming cover], BBC, 22 June 2006</ref>

===Reincarnation insurance===
The UFO Abduction Insurance Co of Florida also offered insurance against being [[reincarnation|reincarnated]] as a "lower life form".<ref name=sfgate/>

==See also==
*[[Insurance in the U.S.]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}