It’s incredibly annoying when your bike is suddenly gone. Because let’s face it–the first thing you’re thinking after your bike is stolen is probably, “I knew I shouldn’t have locked my bike up here” or, “I knew I should have locked my bike up better” or, “Why am I such an unlucky and hapless idiot?” 

If this happens to you, it’s certainly a relief to know that you have bicycle insurance or contents insurance that covers theft—check out some of our options here. 

Of course, the best outcome is simply to avoid having your trusty ride stolen in the first place. Despite bicycle theft being the most common form of crime in the Netherlands, there are still many ways to prevent it. We asked some bike experts and some bike-theft experts (i.e, people who’ve had their bikes stolen–not people who steal bikes) for some tips on how to best protect your wheels. 

Make sure your bike is actually locked

Okay, so let’s start with the painfully obvious. When you go to lock up your bike… make sure you actually lock up your bike. 

Take it from Scott Indrisek, managing editor at Lemonade. “I lost my beloved Fuji Feather single-speed a few months ago because I ducked into a Thai restaurant for dinner and left the bike ‘locked’ outside,” Scott told us, with the defeated voice of someone who knew they f’d up.

“Forty-five minutes later, I came back out to find the bike gone, and my sturdy U-lock dangling from the street sign where it had been.”

Buying a new bike will also give you a rush of nostalgia that you won’t get with many other “grown-up” purchases—which is why falling victim to bicycle theft is such an emotional punch to the gut.

In his haste to devour a plate of basil chicken, Scott did the unthinkable: He locked his bike lock to the pole, without ensuring any part of the actual bike was involved in the equation. “A painful lesson learned,” he lamented. 

While it seems like an easy mistake to avoid, things can happen when you’re in a rush. So always double check to make sure that, a) the bike is actually connected to the lock, and b) the lock itself is securely fastened. 

Also obvious, but don’t leave your bike unattended under any circumstances–even if you’re just popping into the Albert Heijn for a bottle of water. This would be a bike thief’s dream come true. 

How and where to lock your bike

A poorly locked bike will disappear quickly, especially if you live in a major city. Putting a couple extra minutes of thought into how and where you’re locking your bike could go a long way in preventing your trusty steed from being bike-knapped.

“Locking only the front wheel or back wheel to a pole is a very common mistake,” Javier S., owner of a bicycle shop told us. This is especially true for bikes that have quick-release wheels. 

“If you have a quick release wheel, it makes it easier for anyone to just remove the wheels and take the frame with them,” Javier explained. “Make sure to always lock up the rear wheel along with the frame.” For those who are extra-cautious, it might be a good idea to use two locks: a classic U-lock for the bike frame, and a chain or cable lock that can be threaded through both wheels.

Location is also super important. If you’re in a major city like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, or Den Haag, scaffolding, street signs, and fence posts are abundant and can work in lieu of a bike rack. But there are a few things to consider before letting your bike out of your line of sight. Your bike will only be as secure as the object it’s fastened to, so make sure you always choose an immovable object that can’t be easily broken.

When it comes to locking your bike, not all locations are safe. Avoid unsecured street signs or fences, and exercise extreme caution if you’re hooking your bicycle to construction scaffolding.

Double check the street sign to ensure it’s securely fastened into the ground. It’s not uncommon for street signs to become loose, making it possible for a thief to jiggle them out of their place and slide your bike off with ease. You’ll also want to avoid locking your bike to any wooden fences or any particularly thin pieces of steel– or, anything else you think might be easily snipped with a pair of bolt cutters. 

If you’re locking up to scaffolding, make sure you’re only securing the bike to the vertical bars. The horizontal bars on scaffolding can be easily unscrewed and removed, leaving your bike vulnerable. If possible, try to avoid scaffolding all together. Scaffolding by nature is an impermanent structure, so the longer your bike is locked there, the more likely it is you’re going to lose that bike.

Theft-proofing your bike

If you’re serious about the safety of your bike, it will definitely be worth it to invest in a few simple modifications that can significantly decrease the likelihood of it being stolen.

For example, you can install a wheel lock or buy a saddle clamp. It’s also smart to only buy locks that are ART approved (don’t buy a lock that has less than 2 stars). These locks are tested and are a good security measure to protect your bike from theft. You can find the list of approved locks here. 

And don’t forget about your bike’s nifty accessories. That expensive gel-cushioned bike seat you bought is super comfortable and looks really sleek– but your local bicycle thieves probably think so too. So if your bike’s saddle has a quick-release option, either take the seat with you or secure the seat by replacing the quick release with a binder bolt.

Tip for e-bikes: the battery of an e-bike is very valuable. If your battery is not fixed to your bike, it is smart to take it with you when you have parked your e-bike somewhere. Stealing a battery can be done in a couple of seconds – they are often even taken in the middle of the day.

The final tip is  to purchase a bike according to your risk profile. If you live in a tiny studio apartment in the middle of a crowded city, and you know you won’t be able to store your bike anywhere indoors, it might be time to accept the fact that you absolutely should not buy that awesome $8,000 titanium road bike you’ve been eyeing. 

Fact: Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Maastricht are the most unsafe cities for your bike. You are more likely to not find your bike back where you left it in those cities. Other places with high theft rates are Utrecht and Schiedam. If you live in these cities, it might be a better idea to buy a cheaper or second-hand bicycle.

Is any lock really theft-proof?

Bike thieves are innovative, which means that it’s unlikely anyone will ever create a lock that is 100% theft-proof. But spending a little money on a tough-to-crack lock will at least lower your chances of theft. There’s no easy way around it: A serious bike lock is going to be a bit cumbersome. But cheap, lightweight cable locks alone can be easily cut by savvy thieves, so the inconvenience is worth it. 

The Dutch cyclists’ union has figured out for us which locks are truly the best. They came to the conclusion that folding locks and U-locks are not the safest options. You’re better off going for a ring lock and a separate chain lock of at least 85 centimeters. Click here for the best tested locks (the number of ART stars is also listed – how convenient!).

How to recover a stolen bike

Let’s say you followed all of these tips, and somehow, your bike still got stolen. You could first call your local police department to file a report, and then file a claim with your insurance company to try to recoup the amount it would take to purchase a replacement.

Or, maybe you’ve been preparing for this since the day you purchased your bike. We’re definitely not recommending you start your own vigilante bike-theft investigation, but there’s certainly some steps you can take to potentially make recovering your stolen bike a bit easier. 

The first would be to purchase a GPS tracker. This might sound like something straight out of a Bond movie, but welcome to 2020, baby. These days, GPS trackers are tiny, affordable, and can be purchased online or in a bike shop. While it may not prevent your bike from being stolen in the first place, it can make tracking it down a lot easier. 

Or, take the old-fashioned route. A common tactic is to write a short note on a tiny roll of paper and stuff it into your bike’s seat-post tube. Oftentimes, bicycle thieves will steal the bike with the intention of immediately trying to pawn it off to a shop, or sell it on Craigslist or Ebay. So on your note, you can write something like “If this bike was sold by anyone else other than Mrs. Original Bike Owner, it has been stolen,” along with your phone number. It might be a long-shot, but it’s definitely worth a try and requires minimal effort. 

Does your contents insurance cover bicycle theft?

Yes and no. Your bicycle is part of your contents and is covered if someone breaks into your home (or shed) and steals your bicycle. However, it is a different story when your bicycle is stolen outside your home. For this type of theft you are usually not insured. You’ll need to have coverage outside your home. 

With Lemonade you have the option to insure your bicycle outside your home. Add the anti-theft package when getting your contents insurance policy so all your belongings (not just your bicycle!) are insured worldwide against theft. But don’t forget to lock your bike with an ART-approved lock (at least 2 stars). And if your bike is worth more than € 5.000 it needs to be added separately to your policy so it is fully covered in case of damage or theft.

Reporting the damage or theft can simply be done through our app using Lemonade’s claims bot: AI Jim. All you have to do is answer a few short questions and record a video explaining what happened.

At the end of the day, bike theft is fairly avoidable. With a couple of sturdy locks, and the knowledge of how and where to effectively lock the bike, you should be in the clear. And if all else fails, your Lemonade contents insurance will have your back. Safe riding!

The post Avoiding Bike Theft is Easier Than You Think appeared first on Lemonade Blog - Verhalen over het leven, tech en verzekering.

Fifty years ago, the economist Milton Friedman published a massively influential essay in the New York Times. His message was clear: The social responsibility of business is to increase its profits. 

In other words, the sole purpose of a company is to make money. Known as ‘Shareholder Theory,’ Friedman’s 1970’s argument became hugely popular—inevitably letting corporations off the hook in terms of any moral responsibility to the greater good.

But in the years since, our world has shifted dramatically—and with it, the way we do business. Amongst harsh economic, racial, and health inequalities, not to mention global climate change and a warming planet, some companies are seeking a better form of capitalism. 

Consumers, employees, and the capital markets are all pressing business to “stop being so much of the problem, and start becoming more of the solution.” 

A new capitalism?

One important step in this direction has been the rise of the B Corporation, a new type of company that’s held accountable for social and environmental impact. 

It’s not just lip service, either—there’s a stringent process to make sure that B Corps uphold shared values and practices. This allows mission-driven businesses to better communicate their commitment to society, their workers, and to the natural environment, in a world where everybody claims to be “green” and “good.” 

True, the C.E.O.-led Business Roundtable took a stand in 2019—suggesting that a modern company can’t simply print cash, but “must also invest in their employees, protect the environment and deal fairly and ethically with their suppliers.” As a recent follow-up study found, however, this didn’t result in much concrete change. 

The B Corp certification process, however, is about accountability. Or, as Harvard Business Review describes it, it’s a way to stop “corporations donning the persona of a responsible citizen, while continuously performing practices to maximize profit.”

How does a B Corporation work?

It began with B-Lab, a 12-year-old nonprofit organization, which was founded with the aim of balancing profit maximization with a social mission. 

They created a third-party administered certification, the B Corp Certification (think of it as akin to a FairTrade label) based on a company’s verified performance on the B Impact Assessment.

There are only around 2,500 Certified B Corporations, including Lemonade, Ben & Jerry’s, Warby Parker, and Patagonia.

The process grades brands on a points system that measures five key areas: Governance, Workers, Environment, Customers, and Community. A total of 150 questions dig into every part of a business, from your supply chain and charitable giving, to employee benefits and customer satisfaction. 

For instance: How is your company structured to benefit its employees? Does your product or service address a social or economic problem for or through your customers?

And it goes on: How does your company integrate social and environmental performance into decision-making? What is the total energy used during the last 12 months? What’s the company’s lowest wage, as calculated on an hourly basis? What’s the deal with interns, inclusive recruiting, and health and wellness programs for employees?

In order to get certified, each B Corp receives a score at the end of the assessment. Companies need over 80 points to ensure B Corp status—so it’s not just a pass/fail system, but an evaluation that changes as the company does. 

It’s also a healthy reminder that socially responsible companies can always evolve, improve, and do better.

Accountability is key

At any stage, companies can be asked to produce supporting documents to verify the long-term validity of claims, which will be checked by the B Lab assessment board. For example, Lemonade was asked to provide data on our energy use, carbon footprint, and waste management.

But companies don’t only need to pass the 80-point assessment that B Lab has created. 

They also have to adopt a legal framework, explicitly stating that the company will account for all of its stakeholders when making decisions. 

A B Corporation recognizes that it needs to be accountable to its employees, the environment, and society at large.

Keep in mind that stakeholders encompass a much broader category than shareholders. While a traditional company might focus purely on the needs of its board or those who own stocks, a B Corp’s stakeholders include its employees, its suppliers, and the environment.

By creating an infrastructure for stakeholder-orientated capitalism, B Corps have to acknowledge the multiple impacts of their business beyond just financial performance. 

If you’re measuring success solely by profit—not taking into account pollution, social unrest, and any inequality your company might be causing—your balance sheet is not painting an accurate picture. Your pockets might be filling up while the society around you suffers.

Becoming a B Corp

It’s not an easy process, so being labeled a B Corp actually means something. More than 100,000 businesses have signed up for the B Corp Impact Assessment since its launch in 2006, but only 2,500 companies—brands like Ben & Jerrys, Warby Parker, Patagonia, the Guardian, Kickstarter, and AllBirds, along with Lemonade—are certified B Corps. A few Dutch businesses—including Tony’s Chocolonely, Dopper, and Snappcar—have also joined the B Corp movement.

Given how much the media and consumers emphasize the importance of a business having a social mission, you’d think all companies would be rushing to achieve B Corp status. Research from Harvard Business Review suggests that, for most companies, there is a significant gap between the belief that a social purpose should be integrated into an organization and their ability to actually do so. 

The B Corp process is no walk in the park (though certification itself doesn’t cost anything). Jamie Oliver, in a recent interview, compared certifying the Jamie Oliver Group to dealing with the UK’s tax service: “It’s fucking hard. It makes the Inland Revenue look like pussycats.” 

As Outland Denim founder James Bartle told Vogue, companies that spend the time and energy to become B Corps generally practice what they preach. “If you don’t want to expose the weaknesses in your business, B Corp will be a negative,” he notes. “It’s a pretty painstaking process to go through for a marketing stunt.”

Lemonade was founded to make insurance into a social good, and our choice to become a B Corp, as well as a public-benefit corporation, legally commits us to our double bottom line. That requires being upfront about what we think ‘good’ is, and is not. Through initiatives like our Giveback program—and our stance on issues like gun control and coal—we strive to align ourselves with our best sense of what’s the right thing to do. It’s a mission shared by the B Corp community, a club we’re proud to be a part of.

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It’s how insurance works, what can I say?

Problem is, too many media exposés have, well, exposed this (e.g. CNN), and consumers are catching on. Want to know what people think of insurance today?

Check out its definition on crowdsourced ‘Urban Dictionary:’

Ouch.

How consumers perceive insurance matters. When people think the game is fixed, they embellish claims to ‘level the playing field.’

This gives insurance companies more grounds for denying claims – sending insurance
into a tit-for-tat spiral.

Now that’s really bad.

Some studies figure this distrust costs as much as 38% of the money in the system (Wikipedia). As crazy as that euro amount may be, the true costs include other currencies too: this distrust corrodes the very fabric and experience of insurance. It’s why insurance is so unloved.

What to do?

Clearly it would be better if everyone just behaved nobly. Problem is neither side has anything to gain by unilaterally behaving better. In game theory, such gridlock is known as a ‘Nash equilibrium,’ and at the Nash equilibrium for insurance, everyone loses.

Starting from scratch

Now, imagine you wanted to break this cycle. You’re starting a new kind of insurance company, and want it to be trusting and trustworthy. What to do?

You’re sincere and well-intentioned, and you could try the ‘trust me’ approach. It’s the obvious play. But because you are sincere and well-intentioned, you shouldn’t believe your own pitch. Insurance folks aren’t bad people, and we are no more immune to conflicts of interest than they are.

Oscar Wilde said it best: “I can resist everything except temptation!”

Much as I wish it weren’t so, the problem is the system, and good intentions are no match.

This challenge haunted us in the months leading up to founding Lemonade. The more we thought about it the more we became convinced that this was a classic game theory problem.

To validate and refine our thinking we cold-called a Nobel Laureate in Game Theory. He didn’t return the first dozen calls, but ultimately agreed to help if we promised to stop badgering him. This process laid the foundations of Lemonade.

Ulysses as an integral part of Lemonade

We’ve developed some pretty cool technologies in making Lemonade. But the single most powerful tool we’re deploying is what game-theorists call a ‘Ulysses Contract.’

The legend of Ulysses tells of an island inhabited by Sirens, beautiful womanoids with beguiling voices. Sadly, they were psychopathic murderers, and sailors lured by their song met a gruesome death. Word spread, so the seamen knew what lay ahead, but each was confident he could enjoy the music without being drawn beyond the point of no return. That hubris cost them dearly.

Only one, Ulysses, cracked the code. He had himself tied to his ship’s mast so he couldn’t change course. Now that’s a structural fix.

Realizing your future-self may be unable to resist temptation, and tying your hands in anticipation, is a proven technique in game-theory to change the Nash equilibrium.

Such a Ulysses Contract underpins Lemonade.

Lemonade is a Public Benefit Corporation, a certified B-Corp, and our team genuinely wants to do the right thing. But I’d hate to test our love for social impact against our love for stock options every day.

No, if we want you to trust us we will have to do more than profess our good intentions. Much more.

We must do the only thing that truly changes anything: Tie our hands.

It’s not our money

So that’s what we’ve done. We decided we’ll take a flat fee, and if there’s money leftover we will return it to a cause of your choosing. That’s a first for insurance.

By placing ‘unclaimed money’ beyond our reach, we removed temptation, and changed the game.

That changes everything. Insurers typically make money by investing premiums (“float”) or by paying out less in claims and expenses than they took in premiums (“underwriting profit”). Lemonade relies on neither. We collect premiums monthly, so the money earns interest in your bank account, not ours, and we return unclaimed money at year’s end in Lemonade’s Giveback.

Knowing that you embellish claims at the expense of a cause you believe in, may change your behavior too, setting off a virtuous cycle. Ultimately we’re after a new Nash equilibrium, one where aligned interests breed trust, resulting in a product that is inexpensive, hassle-free and lovable.

I run an insurance company, yet I’m not tempted to deny your claims.

It’s how Lemonade works, what can I say?

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Insurance is another kettle of fish altogether.

Sultans of stats

The birth of statistics is usually dated to 1662, when John Graunt calculated the probabilities of Londoners surviving to a given age. Lloyds of London started shortly thereafter, and advances in statistics and insurance have been inseparable ever since.

But in recent years, supremacy in statistics has moved to Silicon Valley – a bad omen for the insurance establishment. True, insurers still have some of the finest human statisticians, but the finest statisticians of all are no longer human. They’re machines.

Insurers, of course, have machines too, but the machine’s ‘secret power’ is its ability to extract prophetic insights from inhuman quantities of data. If the data isn’t ‘Big,’ the machine will function as a calculator, not an oracle.

Which brings us to the crux of the problem: insurance companies, born in the era of the horse-drawn carriage, were not built to capture Big Data.

Loss ratios are like testicles

Case in point: an executive at one of the largest insurers told me that “other” is their most common cause for a claim. People (unlike bots) lazily tick that catch-all-box, rendering their data useless.

Tons of useful data are lost too: often they’re not machine readable; other times, it’s the humans who can’t read them (swallowed by a system whose architect retired in the 90s).

The exec went on to say their ‘loss ratio’ was 54% (in other words, if you paid $100 in premiums, they’d spend , on average , $54 on your claims). Among insurers, this passes for small talk, so he was a little taken aback when I countered that his customers have ,  on average, one testicle. I explained that knowing your customer ‘on average’ offers little insight. Worse, under the guise of a ‘statistical fact,’ a generalized average often paints a misleading picture.

A loss ratio  –  the gold-standard insurance metric  – is no substitute for deep, textured and rich data. The very kind insurance companies are ill-equipped to collect.

Digital divination

Some insurance buyers take time to understand their coverage, others don’t. Is that predictive? What do our tech choices say about our risk profile?

There are endless such questions, and in a fully digital lifecycle, they all get answered. Unlike traditional insurers, tech companies won’t make do with a global ‘loss ratio.’ They will monitor the loss ratio per device, browser, and advertising campaign. They will compare the loss ratio of people who press hard on the screen, to those who don’t; the loss ratio of those who bought insurance from home, to those who bought it on their commute; those who bought it at 4pm, to those who bought it at 2am. Not only will the machine answer all these questions, it will answer a myriad more we didn’t know to ask.

Tech companies gather thousands of times more data than traditional insurers, producing nuanced profiles of their customers, and remarkably predictive insights.

It’s hard to think of a domain that isn’t being upended this way. Want to predict if this year’s cabernet will be a winner? The centuries-old method calls for a connoisseur to swish and spit. Orley Ashenfelter used a multivariate regression to derive a simple equation that outperforms the aficionados:

When the product is wine, the machine can put some noses out of joint. When the product is probability, the machine can transform the industry.

Grab your popcorn, Act 2 is beginning

In recent years the insurance industry has paid close attention to insurance-tech-startups. They take note of how being digital transforms the user experience, appeals to younger consumers, and removes costs, while expediting everything. That’s all true, but it is only Act 1.

While everyone is bedazzled by the tech of Act 1, these delightful apps are generating mountains of data. These will soon reach the billions of entries that machines go to town on, and that’s when Act 2 will begin.

Act 1 showcases the power of technology to transform any business by reducing costs, increasing speed, and delighting consumers. But when Act 2 begins, we will see the power of AI to transform insurance in a uniquely powerful way. It will go beyond thrilling customers and driving efficiencies, to being able to quantify risk like never before. That day is nigh.

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Fortunately, there’s no need to stress. This article will answer all of your questions, and soon you’ll be a pro when it comes to liability insurance in the Netherlands.

Here’s a brief overview:

• What is liability insurance, and is it mandatory?
• What is covered by liability insurance?
• How high should my coverage be?
• What is not covered?
• Partner, children and housemates—who is considered co-insured? 
• Is damage caused by pets covered?
• Cancelling liability insurance
• A policy for the 21st century: digital and transparent

What is liability insurance, and is it mandatory?

Unfortunately, sometimes bad things happen, and people make mistakes. In those cases, it’s nice to be insured. This way you can avoid incurring unexpected expenses if you’re liable for damage and have to pay compensation.

Private liability insurance (AVP) covers damage accidentally caused to others. This applies to both material damage and personal injury. In contrast to a third-party insurance for your car or motorcycle, liability insurance for private individuals is not compulsory… but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good idea to have it!

There are a number of common situations for which liability insurance provides coverage:

Injury

• You accidentally ride your bike into someone, causing them to break their arm.
• Your dog gets scared and bites a passerby in the street.

Material damage

• While playing soccer, your son misses the goal and accidentally “scores” through your neighbor’s window.
• You spilled red wine on your mother-in-law’s couch.

What is covered by liability insurance?

What is and what is not insured may differ from insurer to insurer. Make sure you know what is important to you so that you get a policy that suits your personal situation. Normally, personal liability insurance provides cover for material damage or personal injury that you cause by accident. 

If someone holds you liable for damage, your insurance company will check whether this is justified or not. If not, your insurer will defend you—if necessary, even in court. If you are responsible, your insurer will pay the costs. Most insurance companies also cover damage caused by pets. The amount paid out depends on the situation and on the deductible if applicable. 

How high should my coverage be?

Often you can choose your own insured amount. Usually this amount is between €1.25 and €2.5 million. So for example, if someone breaks his arm and you are liable, the medical costs will be insured up to the amount you have chosen. If you have coverage up to €1.25 million and the damage is higher than that amount, the rest will have to come from your own pocket. 

So how do you determine the correct amount of liability coverage? Unfortunately, there is no perfect answer to this question and you will have to make your own decision based on how much risk you think you might face.

Tip: The Consumers’ Association advises you to insure yourself for a minimum amount of €1.25 million with a deductible of €0. The amount of the excess determines how much you yourself will pay in the event of damage. Liability insurance usually only costs a few euros, but if you want to reduce the cost of your premium, you can always opt for a higher deductible.

What’s not covered?

In most situations, the following items are not covered by your private liability insurance:

• Damage that you have caused intentionally will never be compensated by liability insurance.
• Rented items are not covered by your liability insurance. Think for example of rented furniture for a party or tools you rent for a renovation.
• Things you borrow or willingly hand over to someone else, are not covered. So if you handed something you own to someone else, it’s under their responsibility and won’t be covered.
• Damage that is normally covered by another type of insurance (such as car, yacht, or professional liability insurance). 
• Damage you cause to persons covered by the same policy. If you and your partner fall under the same liability policy and you accidentally break your husband’s smart TV, this is not covered.
• Situations involving fraud are not covered.

Partner, children and roommates – who are co-insured?

Most insurers offer different policies for single people and families. Below you can clearly see who is normally co-insured on your liability insurance: 

Single individuals

• The insurer himself/herself
• Guests (if your guest causes damage to third parties)

Family policy 

• The insurer himself/herself
• The partner of the insured
• Co-habitating parents-in-law or other family members 
• Minor children
• (Unmarried) adult children if they live at home with the insured person or if they are away from home for study (usually up to the age of 27)

Unfortunately, roommates are excluded from the policy and will have to get their own liability insurance. 

Is damage caused by pets covered?

Usually we’re sure your cute Golden Retriever or your beautiful Maine Coon won’t hurt a fly. But an accident could happen at any moment, whether that means your pet biting a neighbor or shredding their curtains. Fortunately, damage to others caused by your pet is covered by your liability insurance. 

Cancelling liability insurance

Nowadays, there are more and more liability insurances that can be cancelled at any point, but there are still many policies that require an annual contract. At Lemonade you can cancel your liability insurance free of charge, whenever you want. It’s also very easy to cancel using our app. After you have discontinued your policy, we will refund the unused part of your premium to your account. If you decide to come back, we will simply get a new policy for you. Please note that you may receive a new premium when you sign up again, as our prices change from time to time.

A policy for the 21st century – digital and transparent

With Lemonade’s Policy 2.0 you are covered by an insurance designed for the 21st century, transparent and easy to understand. With the Lemonade app, you can apply for a policy in seconds and adjust it — whenever you want — to your needs. 

Submitting a claim is just as easy. Just the app and click on “Submit Claim.” AI Jim, our chatbot, will then ask you a few questions, and your claim will be processed ASAP. With a Lemonade policy you also make a positive social impact: unclaimed premiums will be donated to a charity of your choice through the Giveback program.

With Lemonade liability insurance you are insured for the following:

• Property damage
• Injury to others
• Damage to rental properties due to fire and water
• Damage caused by pets
• E-bikes
• Boats and vessels
• Damage while traveling

Properties

Your liability insurance covers any damage you accidentally cause to someone else’s property.

Injury to others

Let’s say someone slipped during your housewarming party and got hurt. If he holds you responsible, we’ll help you out of this predicament. We will check if this claim is justified and we will defend you—if it comes to that, also in court. If you do turn out to be liable, we will pay the costs for you.

Damage to rental property due to fire and water

We provide coverage for any damage you accidentally cause to a property or hotel room you rent (including the rented furniture), if the accident is caused by fire or water.

Damage caused by pets

Damage caused by your own pets to others is covered by your liability insurance. Please note that we do not cover damage caused by horses, cattle, or wild animals that you own or that are under your permanent care.

E-bikes

More and more Dutch people are switching to an e-bike instead of a normal city bike. They’re very convenient (no more sweaty armpits!), but are you insured for damage that you could possibly cause with your e-bike? With Lemonade you have cover for damage you cause with your (electric) bike. But keep in mind that motorized vehicles with mandatory insurance requirements (e.g. mopeds, e-bikes with a maximum speed of more than 25 km/h, e-scooters and segways) are not covered.

Boats and vessels

Lemonade offers coverage for damage you cause with small boats or vessels. Please note: coverage does not apply to boats with a sail area of more than 16 square meters, or with engines of more than 4 HP.

Damage on voyage

The Lemonade liability insurance protects you worldwide (as long as your trip lasts less than 3 months). So if you’re on holiday in Venice and accidentally knock over all the snowglobes in a souvenir shop, you’re covered.

Tip: You can adjust the insured amount to your individual needs. You can remove the contents insurance from your quote by resetting the coverage to zero, or increase it by clicking on the plus button.

What are you still waiting for? Get Lemonade insurance in a few seconds!

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In addition to liability insurance, contents insurance is one of the most important types of insurance that everyone should have in the Netherlands. It’s just part of the basics. Suppose something happens to your beloved laptop, or that flat screen you’d been saving up for—these belongings fall under contents insurance, and they’re protected against damage in various scenarios. 

This article covers the following topics:

• What is contents insurance?
• Do I need contents insurance?
• Which items are insured?
• When does my contents insurance offer coverage?
• Add-ons and Extra Coverage 
• What’s not insured?
• How do I use contents insurance? 
• Cancelling the contents insurance
• Get insured and make an impact

What is contents insurance, anyway?

When you move into a new apartment, you generally start out by buying some essentials. But after a couple months or years, your belongings (a.k.a. inventory) could be worth a lot more than you think. Contents insurance protects all of your items against damage. 

Simply put, everything you can pick up and take with you when you move houses is covered by your contents insurance. So if your washing machine floods your apartment and your furniture gets damaged, this is covered by your insurance. In addition, some insurers offer an option to insure your smartphone if it’s stolen from your favorite cafe while you’re having lunch with friends.

Let’s be clear: Contents insurance covers all items that you normally keep at home, and that belong to you. Lemonade contents insurance protects you even when you travel, anywhere in the world (for a maximum of 3 months).

Do I need contents insurance?

Unlike the situation with third-party liability insurance for your car, you are not obligated to get contents or liability insurance in the Netherlands. But even though you aren’t required to have it, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. That’s why most Dutch people still get both of these insurances. Contents insurance provides a safety net if your stuff gets damaged.

Imagine that everything you have accumulated over many years suddenly has to be replaced because your house or apartment gets destroyed by fire or water damage. It could cost you tens of thousands of dollars to replace it all. Hopefully this will never happen, but if you have contents insurance, all your ruined belongings would be covered. 

Or let’s say your locked-up bike gets stolen, or someone breaks into your apartment and steals your laptop—your contents insurance is there to help you. That’s exactly what it’s designed for.

What stuff is insured, exactly?

Contents insurance insures any of your items against any damages that may occur. In the situation that damage does occur, contents insurance pays for the repair or replacement value of your item or belongings. Importantly, Lemonade’s policy doesn’t pay you less because your damaged item has been used. Here are a few examples of items that are covered by your contents insurance:

• Jewelry (watches, engagement rings, necklaces, etc.).
• Clothing and accessories (such as handbags)
• Furniture (chairs, carpets, etc.)
• Bicycles
• Musical instruments
• Cameras
• Electronic devices (TV, laptops, etc.)

The standard Lemonade policy automatically covers items up to a value of € 5.000 each. If you own a super-light carbon racing bike or a SLR camera that cost more than € 5.000, you can easily add extra coverage for these to your policy. You’ll just need a photo of each item you’re adding coverage for, as well as an invoice or receipt of purchase. 

Don’t worry if you don’t have this documentation right now! After taking out your Lemonade policy you will have temporary coverage (2 weeks) for these pricier  items. So, you have a bit of time to figure this out and then submit the info for extra coverage on those things.

When does my contents insurance cover?

Contents insurance not only provides coverage for damages but also for when you suddenly find yourself in other sorts of difficult predicaments.

Clogged or blocked pipes

Contents insurance provides coverage if your washing machine floods your apartment and your carpet gets damaged as a result.

Burglary and vandalism

If items are stolen or damaged by a burglary, this is also covered.

Life-maintenance costs

Some contents insurance provides coverage for temporarily increased life-maintenance costs. In the case that your house becomes unlivable and you have to find shelter somewhere else, contents insurance is there to help. Suppose you temporarily have to relocate because of a fire caused by a short circuit. Due to this unfortunate circumstance, you’ll need a hotel or Airbnb. Contents insurance will help cover those costs! In these cases, some insurance companies will even cover extra fees for food or parking. 

Lemonade covers the following:

• Fire and smoke
• Explosions
• Burglary, robbery, and vandalism
• Windstorms and hail
• Water damage caused by burst or blocked pipes, or an appliance leaking in your building. 
• Items normally kept in your home, balcony, terrace, garage, garden shed, or a storage unit in your building (as long as it’s stuff you own that is in your possession)
• You can find more information in our Policy 2.0. This is Lemonade’s radically simplified, modernized, and digitized insurance policy. This means that you can actually read and understand it.

Add-ons – Extra Coverage

Anti-Theft Package

At Lemonade you can adjust your insurance to your personal needs. If you want your beloved bike or laptop to be insured against theft, you can add the anti-theft package to your insurance (starting from € 3/month). Whether you’re at home, in a cafe, or chilling in the Vondelpark, with this package you’re covered against theft everywhere. 

All-Risk Package

With the All-Risk package, you are insured against theft as well as accidental damage to your belongings (even if it’s your fault!). If you spill coffee on your carpet or knock over your new TV, this is covered. But keep in mind that this does not apply to mobile electronics like smartphones, laptops, or tablets. If you accidentally drop and break those, they won’t be covered.

What is not covered?

It can be frustrating if you don’t know exactly what is and is not covered by your policy, especially if you expect something to be covered and you find out that it isn’t. To spare you these annoyances, here is a list of all the things that are not covered by your policy: 

• Cash and firearms
• Stuff that’s primarily used for your business
• Things you borrow or willingly hand over to someone else 
  • This includes your stuff getting damaged during shipping; while being dry cleaned; while handled by a moving service or an airline; or any damage to an item that you loaned to a friend
  • Property that is illegal for you to own
• We don’t cover stuff that’s usually covered by other types of insurance, such as auto, business, or pet. This would include damage to motorized vehicles with compulsory insurance requirements, business equipment such as your work laptop, injuries to your pets, and so on
• If you intentionally caused damage, or if the damage was a result of your recklessness or evident negligence, this is not covered. 
• Damage caused by war, terrorism, civil unrest, or nuclear energy is not covered

How do I get contents insurance? 

The good news is that you don’t need much to get contents insurance — just your address and a solid estimate of how much coverage you will need.

Rule of thumb for estimating how much coverage you need:

Imagine throwing everything in your home out the window: furniture, carpets, clothing, electrical appliances, bicycles, and musical instruments. Add up the cost of that pile of belongings down on the street and that’s equivalent to the value amount you will need for your coverage.

If your lifestyle changes — or you acquire more stuff — and you want to adapt your policy to fit your new needs, no worries! With Lemonade’s Live Policy, you can update your coverage right in your app — wherever you are, with just a few clicks. 

Get insured with Lemonade in seconds

Too often, buying insurance is a headache, and filing claims requires lots of energy, paperwork, and time. To counter this worry and inconvenience, we have made Lemonade insurance as simple, fast, and uncomplicated as possible.

With the help of Maya, our charming AI bot, you can do everything quickly and easily from the comfort of your couch. Answer a few questions and you’ll get a personalized quote in less than two minutes. Then, before you take out the policy, you can edit your quote and adjust your coverage to best fit your needs. 

Tip: You can tailor your coverage to your individual needs. Please note that you can also adjust your liability insurance at any time. Also, you can remove this insurance by resetting the coverage to zero or increase it by clicking on the plus button.

Who is covered?

You can add your children or your significant other (no, you don’t have to be married!) to your policy — as long as you live together. Click on the option that applies to you when you take out your policy. Unfortunately, your housemates will have to take out their own contents insurance.

Tip: Make sure you also have sufficient coverage for your partner’s and/or children’s belongings.

Cancelling your contents insurance

With most insurers you can only cancel your contents insurance after one year. At Lemonade, we give you the freedom to cancel your policy, free of charge, at any time. Cancelling your policy is very easy with the help of our app. After you cancel your policy, we will refund the unused part of your premium to your account. And if you ever want to come back? No problem! We’ll create a new policy for you. Please note that our prices change from time to time, so your new policy may have a different premium.

Making a difference – The Lemonade Giveback

Lemonade is an insurance company unlike any you’ve seen before. Our business model is based on making a social impact. We believe in generating good karma by balancing profit and purpose. One way we do this is through our Giveback program, in which we donate a portion of profits to causes our users choose. 

Lemonade Inc. is a Public Benefit Corporation and certified B-Corp. That means that Lemonade’s users are able to cover their belongings while helping others. Last year, for example, our community helped fund things like water systems in Africa, meal deliveries to thousands of people in need, and the construction of homes for families in Central America. We take a fixed percentage of the premiums paid, then use the rest of the money to pay claims — and donate the remaining balance to charities. 

It’s insurance designed for the 21st century!

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That’s what the Lemonade Giveback is all about.

Unlike any other insurance company, we donate all unclaimed premiums to charity. What does that mean? We take a flat fee from your monthly premium, use the rest to pay claims, and give back what’s left to causes you care about each July. So that annual donation doesn’t come directly from your pocket – instead, it comes from the good behavior and good fortune of the Lemonade community.

Want to dive deeper? Read on for everything you ever wanted to know about the Lemonade Giveback program- and for the entire list of Lemonade’s Giveback charities, scroll down.

Here’s a quick preview of what we’ll cover:

• What is the impact of Lemonade’s Giveback?
• How does Giveback really make Lemonade different?
• The Lemonade Giveback nonprofits

The Impact of Lemonade’s Giveback

Since the Lemonade launch in September 2016, there have been six Givebacks and we donated $ 6.164.548 to dozens of charities. In our first Giveback in 2017, Lemonade donated over 10% of its revenue to 14 Giveback causes, which amounted to $ 54.174. Over time, the Lemonade community as well as the potential of our Giveback have grown, and in 2022, we were able to donate over $ 1,8 million to 59 charities.

The Lemonade Giveback 2022 benefited the following organizations and projects, amongst others:

• Charity:Water: $ 134.909  to support water projects that provide clean and safe drinking water to people in Mali.
• 350.Org: $ 118.443 to support the fight for climate justice. 
• ACLU: $ 75.320 to support the Reproductive Freedom Project and the Anti-Racism Project. 
• National Breast Cancer Foundation: $ 40.014 to administer mammograms.
• The Trevor Project: $ 100.727 to give lifesaving mental health services to LGBTQ+ youth.
• Malala Fund: $ 23.174 to support vulnerable girls enrolled in schools across the Sidama region of Ethiopia.
• Gurls Talk: $ 5.067 to provide free and accessible mental health resources to young women and adolescent girls.

We are proud that our Lemonade community has been able to support so many projects and organizations around the world through the Giveback. Here you can find a list of all nonprofits we currently partnered up with in the Netherlands.

How Giveback Makes Lemonade Different

Our Giveback program allows our Lemonaders to support causes they care about. If there’s leftover premium, it goes to charities chosen by Lemonaders themselves- so Giveback is baked into our business model.

When your unused dollars go to charity, it’s not an extra payment from your pocket. It’s simply due to your good fortune and good behavior – your unclaimed dollars roll over to make a difference for someone else in this universe.

The Giveback model predicts that not every group will get a Giveback every year, but we hope most groups will have more good years than bad.

Social impact is a guiding value at Lemonade. We are a proud member of the B-Corp community, and one of the world’s only public benefit insurance companies. We want to make it easy for you to do good.

Check out some of the things our Lemonaders are saying about Giveback:

If you already have a Lemonade policy but haven’t selected your Giveback cause, make sure you download the Lemonade app. You’ll be prompted to pick a cause you care about and will have the opportunity to read more about each one. If you don’t have Lemonade yet, scroll through our list of causes below, choose one you’re passionate about, and get a Lemonade policy in seconds. 

The Lemonade Giveback List of Nonprofits

CARE
CARE works around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. The organization puts women and girls first because we can’t overcome poverty until we all have equal rights and opportunities. Independent of political, commercial, military, ethnic or religious objectives CARE promotes the protection of humanitarian space.

Clean Clothes Campaign
The Clean Clothes Campaign is a global alliance dedicated to improving working conditions and empowering workers in the global garment and sportswear industries. CCC works directly with workers to solve concrete problems and transform them into global solutions.

De Regenboog Groep
De Regenboog Groep supports those struggling with mental and financial issues – including homeless people. Through buddy volunteer programs, walk-in consultation services, social work, daytime activities and much more, this nonprofit helps alleviate the worries of those living on the streets.

Fairtrade Netherlands
Fairtrade believes that everyone deserves an equal opportunity for a better future. This organisation is committed to improving the living- and working conditions of millions of farmers and workers worldwide. They work hard to grow products that we enjoy every day, such as coffee, bananas and chocolate.

KiKa
Every year, more than 550 children in the Netherlands are diagnosed with cancer. KiKa raises lifesaving funds for innovative research and support for patients, helping them to cure more children, experience less pain during treatments, and have a higher quality of life at a later age.

KNGF Geleidehonden
KNGF Geleidehonden aims to improve the lives of disabled people by partnering them with a specially trained dog. These service dogs provide more freedom, independence and a better quality of life for their humans.

MIND
MIND prevents psychological problems and supports people who suffer from mental issues by providing information, doing research, carrying out projects, taking action, and providing help through the MIND Korrelatie helpline.

Nationaal Ouderenfonds
Het Nationaal Ouderenfonds is committed to helping the elderly in the Netherlands. They encourage them to stay socially active, connected to their surroundings and to be of significance. The nonprofit also inspires Dutch communities to be an age friendly and welcoming society.

Plan International
Plan International is committed to realise equal opportunities for girls and boys. Girls are still disadvantaged and discriminated against. That is why they protect them from child marriages, sexual exploitation, teenage pregnancies and female genital mutilation in over fifty countries.

Plastic Soup Foundation
Plastic Soup Foundation has a clear mission: to stop the plastic pollution. This non-profit tackles the problem at the source – via the industry and the government. There is also a strong focus on education, as well as the relationship between plastics and human health.

Stichting Opkikker
Stichting Opkikker supports families with sick children, by providing activities for the whole family to enjoy. These activities help children forget about the illness, unpleasant treatments and many hospital visits. The program is completely tailored to each specific family situation, offering some joy and relief to thousands of families each year.

Trees for All
Trees for All plants new forest and restores existing forests in the Netherlands and abroad. Their approach aims for a better climate, more biodiversity, and better livelihoods. Together, with people like you, they have already planted and restored millions of trees and dozens of forests. This nonprofit is working hard for a green and healthy earth.

UNICEF
UNICEF stands up for the rights of all children – everywhere in the world. They help millions of children through vaccinations against deadly diseases, support children who suffer from severe malnutrition, provide education and much more. UNICEF believes that every child should be able to grow up healthy, safe and with the opportunity to get the best out of life.

VSO
VSO is the world’s leading development charity fighting poverty through volunteers. The organization brings together specialists and local communities in Africa and Asia to provide good care, better education and equal opportunities for everyone.

Btw, if you don’t see your favorite cause on our list, let us know – we’d love to see if we can help support them too through our Giveback program. Drop us a line at hulp@lemonade.com.

The post How To Make A Dent In The Universe With The Lemonade Giveback appeared first on Lemonade Blog - Verhalen over het leven, tech en verzekering.

Plastic is making headlines for its devastating impact on our oceans and marine life. It constitutes around 90% of all trash floating on the ocean’s surface, according to Earth’s Oceans Foundation. Not only does that kill millions of endangered sea life every year, but also leads fish to ingest microplastics—teeny tiny bits of plastic broken down by ultraviolet light and waves.  

That’s not only problematic for sea life; it’ll ultimately get to us when we eat sea life. Microplastics have been found in sea salt and even mineral water, according to a study published in Water Research. 

Companies and politicians are finally taking cues from environmental activists to reduce our plastic usage. But on a personal level, have you ever sat down to think about how much single-use plastic you really use?

Plastic production is booming

Humans have produced more plastic over the last 10 years than during the whole of the last century. One million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute, according to The Guardian, and the numbers are rising.

Plastics have helped advance space exploration, aviation, and medicine. The problem with plastic is that we produce it for things we don’t need.

According to nonprofit Plastic Oceans, roughly half the world’s plastic is used just one time–like that plastic straw in your iced coffee, or the cutlery you get with your takeout order.

What makes plastic more problematic is that it’s nonbiodegradable and can stick around for up to 1,000 years.

We’ve been told time and time again that recycling is the solution to the plastic problem. However, the issue is too big for just recycling to fix, and may distract us from the real problem: our overproduction of plastics.

These stats aren’t meant to drag you down, and don’t think that the fight against plastic is a lost cause. It’s a wake-up call to action, for the sake of our planet and generations to come. Currently, there’s a positive EU-wide trend towards less plastic usage, with plastic straws and disposable tableware to be banned across the EU from 2021. 

Government regulations like these are key. But here are some practical ways  you can personally join in the anti-plastic movement and make everyday changes to help reduce plastic pollution.

1. Stop using plastics

Sounds obvious (and hard), right? Yes—habits are hard to break. But to really test yourself, take note of how many times you habitually encounter single-use plastic in your day-to-day. Keep a written record if you can!

Then, pinpoint the instances that are truly unnecessary. Maybe you’re buying things in small packages, when you could buy in bulk. Maybe you ordered an ice cream in a plastic cup, rather than a cone. Be conscious of these small decisions. 

Finally, come up with a plan to eliminate (or at least drastically cut) your unnecessary plastic usage. While making a single environmental choice won’t help much on its own, creating positive habits to reduce your plastic usage could go a long way.

Fortunately, there are dozens of quick hacks that make it easier than ever to cut down on your plastic usage.

If you love your morning coffee, either brew it at home and take it to work in a thermo-mug, or keep a reusable mug in your bag for your morning coffee break. Companies like Starbucks and plenty of local coffee shops also offer small discounts when you bring in your reusable cup. At the very least, buy a metal straw, and take it with you to your local cafe.

Another rather obvious thing to do is to avoid using plastic bottles. Tap water quality in the Netherlands is generally pretty good—so health-wise there’s no actual need to rely on bottled water. Instead, make use of your good old Brita water filter, or if you’re into sparkling water, buy a Sodastream.

Groceries and supermarkets started embracing the fight on plastic in 2016, namely by charging for plastic bags. Because of this law, about 83% of the Dutch people now take their own shopping bags with them to the store!

2. Buy more sustainable clothing

According to estimates by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), about 1.5 million tons of microplastics end up in the sea every year. Two thirds of these are fibers from clothing. 

But what can you actually do about it? 

Try to minimize the amount of clothes you own made from polyester and nylon. Instead, you should focus on buying natural fibers such as cotton, bamboo or hemp. And remember: Less is more 😉. Do you really need an entirely fresh wardrobe every season?

We are all familiar with the phenomenon of having a closet full of clothes—but nothing to wear. Buy smart, purchasing items that you can combine. If you feel like you do or you really crave some new showstoppers, go visit some thrift stores in your neighborhood. You’re not only helping the environment by buying second-hand clothes, but you’ll also be wearing unique pieces that nobody else has.

We also suggest motivating yourself (and others!) to stop using so much plastic through the power of social influence. In an interview with Hidden Brain, Behavioral Economist and Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman said that the best way to nudge people towards making environmentally conscious decisions is through social proof.

In other words, if you know that ‘everyone’ (aka, the people you know) pays more attention to their plastic usage, you’ll be much more likely to stop than if you simply hear a statistic about the harms of plastic.

So gather your friends and work together. Whether it’s arranging a clothes-swap with your buddies, co-workers or your community, or sharing on your favorite social media platform when you found a nice new store that sells great second-hand clothing, push one another to be mindful of our environment.

3. Food & Packaging

If you love ordering  takeout from your favorite Chinese restaurant, tell them you don’t want any plastic cutlery delivered. And, if you’re really committed to the cause, hop on your bike and pick up the food with reusable containers!

You can apply this thinking to your grocery shopping, too. Buying in bulk will cut down on plastic packaging, and it won’t hurt your bank account either. Today, there are more sustainable-friendly stores than ever that allow you to bring your own containers from home when buying bulk goods. Check out this list to find zero waste shops all over the Netherlands. There are more out there than you might think!  

Zero waste activists Nicky and Jessie give some great tips on living environmentally friendly. Their Instagram feed is a great resource for info on where to buy eco-friendly headphones or sustainable shoes, how to make your own body lotion, and even how to use a worm bin (yes, you heard that right). 

Even tech companies are taking notice of plastic waste— Apple has already made changes to the iPhone packaging, using 84% less plastic, according to Business Insider.

4. Support the cause

Forward-thinking companies like Loop are offering a new zero-waste platform. The program allows consumers to purchase products made from reusable containers that can be returned and reused. For now, Loop is available in New York and Paris and has just launched a pilot program in the UK, partnering with Tesco. They are expanding worldwide so we will hopefully also see them soon in the Netherlands.

Another approach is supporting non-profit organizations that are working tirelessly to help solve the plastic problem. The Plastic Soup Foundation, an environmental NGO and a member of Lemonade’s Giveback program, tries to tackle the plastic pollution problem. They focus on the link between plastic and human health. By downloading their ‘My Little Plastic Footprint’ app, you can help reduce your own plastic usage.

Although there’s no magic way to cure our plastic problem, there is a growing movement of concerned individuals and communities who are working together to create change. We can’t reverse the damage, but we can work together to fight for solutions to improve the planet for generations to come.

The post The Plastic Problem (And What You Can Do About It) appeared first on Lemonade Blog - Verhalen over het leven, tech en verzekering.

Since our feeds are filled with picture-perfect content, we’re often told we should stay off social media to tend to our mental wellbeing.

But deleting your social apps isn’t the only solution; there is a new community of Instagram illustrators who are using social media to support mental health. Through their art, they talk about self-care and share their work with their followers.

The art of self-care

How do these illustrators help? If you see your struggle unpacked in a cartoon or comic, you’ll remember you’re not alone. Every time someone likes, comments on, or shares these cartoons, it says, “I feel this, too. I’m here.” And it builds a community.

Sometimes, it’s difficult to explain what we’re going through when dealing with stress or sadness, which can make us feel more isolated. Drawing can help Instagrammers communicate problems without verbalizing them, and reminds their followers they’re not alone in their struggles:

“On Instagram, you can see something in an image that doesn’t belong in words. If there were more materials out there that people could latch on to, people would be able to share these images more freely.” – Georgia, creator of @georgia.turner.art

Not only that, but these artists can help change the way we talk about these issues by being real on social media. When they take the risk to share something they’ve buried, a trauma, or just a bad day, it normalizes what could otherwise be a really tough time.

Elyse Fox, founder of the online community ‘The Sad Girls Club,’ says:

“We give social media so much shit, but ultimately it was created to connect people. I want to change the narrative of a picture-perfect life and show people how we can actually put out positive things that are kind of imperfect. We’re responsible for what we put out there.”

When met with support, these displays of authenticity can help clear out stigma and create space for deeper conversations and connections, both online and in real life. The dialogue around mental health can become more mainstream, and grants the comfort of community.

Our top feel-good artists

Here are our favorite Instagram illustrators who are making a difference in their communities:

1. @drawingsofdogs

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Drawings of Dogs (@drawingsofdogs) on Sep 24, 2018 at 6:35am PDT

From illustrations of sloths to bunnies, Henry James Garrett draws “wholesome memes” to not only soothe his anxiety, but also his followers’ stress. On his feed, you’ll find a running theme: Henry often reminds his community they “have a superpower – and it’s called empathy.”

2. @rubyetc

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ruby (@rubyetc_) on Nov 24, 2016 at 9:55pm PST

A self-described “illustrator, cartoonist, [and] big silly,” Ruby uses simple line drawings and scrawls to support her followers. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, but does talk seriously about mental health – making for a unique feed that can help lift you up and make you feel happier.

3. @makedaisychains

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Hannah Daisy 🏳️‍🌈 (@makedaisychains) on Apr 6, 2019 at 4:08pm PDT

Hannah Daisy’s bold cartoons are about #BoringSelfCare – from remembering to breathe to surviving a day at work to brushing your hair. You might find yourself appreciating these simple reminders on your toughest days.

4. @theofficialsadghostclub

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Sad Ghost Club (@theofficialsadghostclub) on Apr 21, 2019 at 12:42am PDT

The ‘Sad Ghost Club’ is ‘the club for those who don’t feel like they’re part of any other club.’ Their signature cartoon ghost is repeated throughout their feed, offering comforting quotes. In their words, ‘We want ghosties to know that they’re not alone. Anyone can go through a rough patch, and knowing that others feel the same as you can be incredibly positive.’

5. @gmfdesigns

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by GMF ★ DESIGNS (@gmf.designs) on Apr 16, 2019 at 12:50pm PDT

Gabby Frost is the founder of the Buddy Project, a nonprofit movement aiming to prevent suicide by pairing people as buddies and raising awareness for mental health. The 21-year-old mental health advocate uses bold bubble lettering and pastel colored graphics to provide tips.

6. @crazyheadcomics

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ⭐️ 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒂 ⭐️ (@crazyheadcomics) on Apr 28, 2019 at 1:34pm PDT

Bad thoughts tend to fester, and negative thinking can become a habit that’s hard to break. Alternating between a cartoon version of herself and slogan posters, Matilda’s comics push us to make an effort to think more positively.

Fine-tuning your feed

Art can change your outlook and the way you experience the world. While these accounts don’t have all the answers, they can definitely make a difference to the way we feel when scrolling.

Give one of these IG artists a follow, and you’ll elevate not only your feed, but also your wellbeing.

P.S. As part of our Giveback program, the Lemonade community supports an amazing Mental Health charity – MIND. Find out how you can help us support them here.

The post Art, Instagram, And Your Mental Health appeared first on Lemonade Blog - Verhalen over het leven, tech en verzekering.

Over the past two months, our pandemic-stricken world has been spinning out of control. While we can’t visit beloved restaurants or hang out with strangers in the park IRL, we can commiserate online and share our favorite memes. Unsurprisingly, most memes in the shadow of COVID-19 have been tinged with a certain desperate comedy.

“Terrifying situations produce anxiety,” explains professor Janet Gibson. “Getting the joke, in some ways, is like having control over our fears, to feel assured we are alive.”

Dark humor has been a coping mechanism ingrained in human nature for centuries. The term “gallows humor,” which can be traced all the way back to the European revolutions of 1848, refers to a certain type of cynicism in the midst of traumatic situations. We can only imagine what the 19th century would have done with Twitter.

Humor in a crisis can boost morale, but it can also help inform and educate. At the very least, it provides a release for anxiety, or a way to cope with things that are just too heavy. 

Let’s take a look at some of the ways that memes are helping us survive the fear and confusion of 2020.

Memes can be a form of therapy

Memes can sometimes be a way to express a feeling that is otherwise difficult to articulate. 

They can be a tool to grapple with crippling anxieties, post-traumatic stress, or good ol’ fashioned existential dread. Memes become a sort of therapy, a way for strangers to realize they’re not alone in their despair. There’s always comfort in company.

Memes make it okay to address our communal sense of dread. There’s a sense of powerlessness in the world right now—no one knows what tomorrow will bring—and poking fun at those feelings can have a legit therapeutic effect.  

“Terrifying situations produce anxiety,” Grinnell College Psychology professor Janet Gibson explained to Gizmodo. “Getting the joke, in some ways, is like having control over our fears, to feel assured we are alive.”

We can learn while we LOL

Many COVID-themed memes are doing more than just lifting spirits and inspiring a sense of community despite social distancing. They’re also promoting healthy behaviors and sharing important facts.

Some of our favorite memes poke fun at the dangers of lifting stay-at-home restrictions too early, or angrily address those who weren’t taking stay-at-home orders seriously to begin with. There are memes that highlight the sleeper symptoms of Covid-19, or suggest nonsensical ways to cut down on the very real problem of face-touching (like rubbing chili pepper all over your hands). 

It’s true that mainstream media, and organizations like the CDC, have already reminded us about all of this stuff countless times. But perhaps it takes the right meme to really make it stick—and in the meantime, we get to cushion our fears with a bit of whimsy.

Classic memes get a COVID-19 update

The versatility of a meme is unparalleled. Its basic structure is so simple that a meme can be effortlessly brought back to life for new purposes, and new jokes. 

A Drake meme created by A.I.

With the help of DIY websites like Imgflip’s Meme Generator, anyone can get in on the game. As Vox’s Aja Romano points out, Imgflip even has a tool that generates memes based on artificial intelligence. The site processes a bunch of already existing memes, and then spits out what it thinks a meme should look like. “As with all other attempts to virtually approximate reality,” Romano notes, “the result of this AI is often an uncanny valley between a real meme and a fake one.”

As memes spread, they mutate—there’s a reason content like that is described as “viral” (which now seems totally awkward). Memes can be picked up and reappropriated to frame current events. A random still from a Brazilian soap opera, for instance, becomes a way to reflect on how time itself loses its meaning during quarantine.

When memes borrow the language of “science”

The daily news is full of graphs that are rarely reassuring. A certain type of meme borrows the visual language of science for a bit of levity. Memes poking fun at sobering statistics allow us to take a step back from a terrifying situation to gain a new perspective (or at least take a deep breath).

A “scientific” chart by @mattsurelee

These memes create a lighthearted spin on how our everyday routines have changed as a result of the virus. Instead of a graph that illustrates how we can “flatten the curve,” we get one that tracks an uptick in “worrying” and “hand-washing”—while the value of your 401k plummets.

Sure, some may think it’s too soon to make light of the pandemic. But that might be missing the point. “I don’t think it’s telling a funny joke about a deadly disease,” Adam Padilla, the meme lord behind the Instagram account @adam.the.creator, explained in a recent Forbes interview. “You’re telling a joke about dealing with a deadly disease.”

The coronavirus is a serious threat, and the human suffering that it has caused is immeasurable. But it’s okay to LOL when we’re uncertain, scared, or stressed. For centuries, through plagues and wars, humor has been a ubiquitous remedy. So don’t feel bad about laughing. It’s not being cruel—it’s surviving. 

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