A recent study conducted by the Renaissance Insurance group examined what people in Russia seek when they file unusual insurance claims. The survey involved 1,200 participants and surfaced a range of surprising and unconventional requests. The findings, shared by RT, point to a pattern where claims that fall outside ordinary expectations are more common than one might assume. The data show that claims involving bodily parts are among the most frequent unusual requests, accounting for about 23 percent of the unusual submissions.
The survey also highlights other unexpected angles. About 17 percent of respondents indicated that they would seek compensation for negative news, while 13 percent mentioned wanting payment for moments that disrupt their morning mood. These insights reveal how people conceive value and protection in moments that extend beyond traditional property or health coverage.
Looking more broadly at the top ten unusual applications, several items stand out. Protection of the vocal cords appears in about 10 percent of cases, followed by claims related to heartbreak at seven percent. A car that has not yet been purchased features in six percent of the responses, while claims related to disappointment in people accounted for five percent. Not winning the lottery represented four percent, and rising gas prices accounted for three percent of the unusual submissions. These figures illustrate the diverse ways people imagine insurance coverage can ease emotional or practical burdens, even when the risks are atypical.
Further insights from related research show what features people value most in a compensation package. Among Russians, training funded by the employer, private health insurance tailored to individual needs, and food allowances were frequently cited as desirable components of an employee benefits package. The results come from a survey conducted by a prominent job-search platform, which tracks evolving attitudes toward compensation and workplace resilience. Source: SuperJob.
For audiences outside Russia, these findings can illuminate broader questions about how insurance and benefits intersect with daily life. In different markets such as Canada and the United States, insurers and employers alike increasingly recognize that protection is not only about traditional risks but also about emotional well-being, personal loss, and life events that can affect productivity and morale. The trend toward broader coverage and more flexible benefits mirrors a growing expectation that insurance products should adapt to new, often surprising, realities. This shift invites policymakers, insurers, and employers to consider how benefits packages can be designed to support people through both practical and emotional challenges, in a way that reflects contemporary lifestyles and work environments.