Do reality TV shows provide insurance for stars? Get real!

Linda Melone

Spoiler alert: The life-threatening stunts, nasty vermin and wacky pranks you see on reality TV shows like “The Amazing Race” and “Survivor” may not be quite as dangerous as they appear.

If they were too risky, you’d see far fewer reality shows on TV because of all of the costly insurance claims spawned by those stunts, vermin and pranks, according to Lorrie McNaught, vice president of Aon/Albert G. Ruben, an insurance brokerage for the entertainment industry.

“Part of the danger perceived by the viewing audience comes from a combination of camera angles and dramatic music. It’s only supposed to look scary,” McNaught says. “No one wants to have the show where somebody really gets hurt. Participants wouldn’t want to be on that show.”

Firsthand experience

For those who appear on these shows, they’re on their own when it comes to health or life insurance. Coverage isn’t provided by the TV production companies behind these shows, and the contestants aren’t required to buy it. All of that’s spelled out in the liability releases that reality TV participants must sign.

Ethan Zohn won “Survivor: Africa” and competed on “The Amazing Race.” He bought health insurance to cover any mishaps during his adventures.

Ethan Zohn won “Survivor: Africa” in 2001 and appeared on the current season of “The Amazing Race.” For “Survivor,” Zohn bought his own health insurance through the National Association of the Self-Employed. Fortunately, he never had to file a health insurance claim.

“We each met with our own doctor before we went (on ‘Survivor’), then we met with the show doctor as well. There was also a doctor on-site during filming,” Zohn says.

Surprisingly, the most dangerous-appearing shows often spawn fewer insurance claims than those featuring backstabbing housewives, amorous bachelors and irate chefs, according to McNaught. She says “walk and talk” shows like “The Bachelor” are more likely to experience mishaps, such as someone tripping and falling, than action shows like “Wipe Out,” where physical activities are tightly controlled.

“A lot goes on behind the scenes to protect participants, because if someone gets hurt, there goes the show,” McNaught says.

Production companies require reality show participants to sign iron-clad releases stating they won’t sue the production company for any reason, so the participants are on their own from a legal perspective. Participants may be covered under workers’ compensation insurance, but not in all cases.

For this reason, Zohn and some other reality show participants carry their own health insurance. “The production company usually carries general liability insurance, but it depends on the production company and the (TV) network,” says Scott Carroll, vice president and program director of Take 1 Insurance, an insurance underwriter for the entertainment business.

That general liability insurance protects the production company if it’s sued and the company’s release form for participants doesn’t hold up in court, McNaught says. Many times, the TV networks dictate what type of insurance a production company must buy for a reality show. This liability insurance doesn’t cover the participants themselves, however.

Peter Williams, president of entertainment insurance provider OneBeacon Entertainment in, Minnetonka, Minn., says that if a reality TV participant is not being paid for his labor, he would advise that person to buy a medical and accident policy offering $250,000 to $500,000 worth of coverage. Many of these shows are filmed overseas, where U.S. medical insurance generally isn’t accepted. OneBeacon writes coverage for reality shows but doesn’t offer individual medical and accident policies.

Travel insurance is another consideration for reality TV participants. A single-trip travel insurance plan can cover trip cancellations, interruptions or delays, lost or stolen luggage, medical expenses and even emergency medical transportation, according to Carol Mueller, vice president of Travel Guard, a provider of travel insurance. Coverage varies depending on several factors, including a traveler’s destination and health status.

Aon/Albert G. Ruben’s McNaught says: “Today’s reality show participants must take every precaution to take care of themselves.”