Warren, N.J.-based property and casualty insurer Chubb has started offering what The Telegraph says is the first coverage of cyber bullying in the United Kingdom, the British newspaper reported last week.

Chubb said wealthy policy holders in the U.K. who buy its personal insurance will be covered for up to £50,000 ($75,000), which could be used to pay for counseling, lost income if they are off work for a week or more, and help from online experts for victims of cyber bullying and their families.

Though the policy is targeted at worried parents, adults who suffer harassment online will also be covered, for example if an internet bullying campaign leads to the victim losing their job or their wrongful arrest, The Telegraph said.

Victims may also be able to hire a reputation management team to clean up any online smears, or pay for a digital forensic specialist to trace the abuse.

Other coverage

The company has also made other changes to its personal insurance policies. It will now cover losses from muggings, and will also reimburse tuition fees if a student in the household withdraws from a college or university because of injury or death.

"We see insurance as helping our clients get back to how they were before the incident occurred — whether it's an incident that affects their home or as a person," Tara Parchment, U.K. and Ireland private clients manager, to the British newspaper. "So we still help to restore homes, cars and belongings that have suffered physical harm or damage, but increasingly it's about the person and how they cope."

Chubb told The Telegraph that the changes were made in response to "extensive research" about the type of protection its wealthy customers wanted.

Special Reports /

Chubb is covering cyber bullying for U.K. policyholders

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