When purchasing tickets through Ticketmaster, you may have the option to add ticket insurance. This insurance, offered through a company called Allianz Global Assistance, provides coverage in case you need to cancel your event for a covered reason. Adding insurance to your Ticketmaster ticket order can give you peace of mind knowing you could recoup the costs if an unexpected issue prevents you from attending.
What is Ticketmaster ticket insurance?
Ticketmaster’s ticket insurance, formally known as Event Ticket Protector, is an optional add-on you can select when purchasing event tickets on Ticketmaster.com or via the Ticketmaster app. It acts as a refund policy to protect the money you spent if you can’t go to the event due to a covered reason.
The insurance is provided through Allianz Global Assistance. Allianz is an insurance company that offers travel insurance products and assistance services. Ticketmaster partners with Allianz to provide this ticket refund insurance.
If you buy the insurance when ordering your tickets and then can’t attend the event due to a covered reason, you can file a claim to get your ticket costs refunded. The insurance acts as a protection on the financial investment you made in the nonrefundable tickets.
What the Ticketmaster insurance covers
The Event Ticket Protector insurance provides coverage in case you can’t go to the event for a variety of covered reasons, including:
- You, your travel companion, or your family member suffers an injury or illness
- You’re involved in a traffic accident on the way to the event
- Your home is made uninhabitable by a natural disaster
- You’re subpoenaed, required to serve on a jury, hijacked, or quarantined
- You’re called into active military service
- The event is cancelled by the artist/team/venue/promoter
There are additional covered reasons listed in the full terms and conditions. The insurance generally provides coverage for unforeseen illness, injury, and circumstances beyond your control that prevent you from attending the event.
What the insurance does not cover
It’s important to understand that the Ticketmaster ticket insurance has some exclusions where a refund would not apply. Reasons you can’t claim a refund include:
- Changing your mind about attending
- A pre-existing medical condition
- The event is postponed but not cancelled
- You’re unable to obtain a visa to travel to the event
- You lose the tickets
Additionally, the insurance only covers the cost of the tickets, not any other incurred expenses related to the event, such as travel costs. The complete exclusions are listed in the insurance policy details.
How much does Ticketmaster ticket insurance cost?
If you choose to add ticket insurance when ordering tickets on Ticketmaster, the price you’ll pay depends on a few factors:
- The base price of your ticket purchase
- The number of tickets you’re insuring
- The specific event
In general, you can expect to pay between 7-12% of your total ticket order in insurance fees. The insurance fee is calculated based on the subtotal of your ticket purchase only.
For example, if you buy two tickets for $100 each, making your subtotal $200, you may pay around $14-$24 in insurance fees. The exact insurance cost will be calculated and disclosed during checkout before you complete your ticket order.
Estimated insurance costs
While the insurance fee varies by event, here are some estimates for what you might pay to add Ticketmaster ticket insurance based on different ticket order subtotals:
Ticket Subtotal | Estimated Insurance Cost |
$100 | $7-$12 |
$250 | $18-$30 |
$500 | $35-$60 |
$1,000 | $70-$120 |
The insurance rate is not related to the number of tickets, but rather the subtotal. So insuring 5 tickets at $50 each will cost the same as insuring 1 ticket at $250.
How to add insurance to Ticketmaster order
Purchasing ticket insurance on Ticketmaster is straightforward to do as part of the normal ticket checkout process:
- Search for the event tickets you want and select your seats.
- On the checkout page, look for the “Event Ticket Protector” option.
- Select “Add Insurance” next to each ticket you want to insure.
- Review the insurance fee calculated and agree to the terms.
- Complete your ticket purchase as normal.
The option to add insurance will typically appear on the first page of checkout after you’ve selected your ticket quantity and type. Make sure to look for it and select it before proceeding.
Adding insurance after purchase
In most cases, you can only purchase the Ticketmaster ticket insurance during the initial ticket checkout. However, for some events, you may have the option to add insurance for a short time after completing your purchase:
- Return to the Ticketmaster site and access your ticket order.
- If presented, select the option to “Add Event Ticket Protector.”
- Choose which tickets to insure and make the additional payment.
If you didn’t add insurance originally but see the option later in your account, take advantage of it within the designated add-on period, usually 3-5 days after your ticket order.
How to file an insurance claim with Ticketmaster
If you purchased Ticketmaster ticket insurance and need to cancel your event for a covered reason, here is how to file a claim to get your refund:
- Access your Ticketmaster account and find your order.
- Select “Request a Refund” and choose the option for Event Ticket Protector.
- Select which tickets you want to refund.
- Provide details on why you’re unable to attend.
- Submit any required supporting documentation.
- Allow 2-3 weeks for claim processing and refund issuance.
Be sure to provide complete and accurate details on your claim, including doctor’s notes if applicable. Keep copies of any documents you submit. Processing times vary but expect around 2-3 weeks to get your refund after a successful claim.
Claim filing deadline
For fastest claims processing, submit your insurance claim as soon as you know you can’t attend the event. Claims must be submitted no later than 3 days after the event takes place. The sooner you file, the quicker your refund can be issued.
Refund form and amount
If approved, your refund will be issued back to your original ticket payment method, minus the insurance fee. So you’ll receive the base ticket value back, just not the portion paid for insurance.
After your claim is processed and approved, it takes 7-10 business days for the refund to show up in your account or on your credit card statement.
Pros and cons of Ticketmaster insurance
Adding ticket insurance provides valuable financial protection in case you can’t use the tickets you bought. But is it worth paying extra for? Here are some key pros and cons to consider:
Pros
- Peace of mind – The key benefit is the peace of mind knowing you can get your money back if an unexpected issue arises.
- Covers many scenarios – Illness, injury, natural disasters, jury duty, military service, and more are covered.
- Convenient claims process – You can easily submit a claim right within your Ticketmaster account.
- Quick refunds – Refund processing takes 2-3 weeks after an approved claim.
Cons
- Added cost – You have to pay extra insurance fees, usually around 10% more.
- May not be offered – Insurance isn’t available for all events, just some.
- Exclusions apply – Pre-existing conditions, event postponements, and other reasons may not be covered.
- Non-transferable – The insurance only covers the original ticket purchaser.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ticketmaster ticket insurance worth it?
Whether the insurance is worth it depends on your tolerance for risk. If you absolutely don’t want to lose the money spent on tickets, the extra cost for insurance may be worthwhile for the peace of mind. But if you’re less concerned with getting a refund, then you may not need the insurance.
Can I get a refund without the insurance?
In most cases, tickets are non-refundable without insurance. However, if the event is cancelled (not just postponed) and not rescheduled, you can request a refund even without insurance through Ticketmaster’s standard refund policy.
What if my event is postponed?
Unfortunately, event postponements are not covered reasons to file an insurance claim. Your tickets will automatically be valid for the rescheduled date though.
Can I transfer my ticket insurance to someone else?
No, the Ticketmaster ticket insurance only covers the original ticket purchaser and is non-transferrable to other people.
Is the insurance refund in cash or Ticketmaster credit?
Successful insurance claims are refunded back to your original payment method, such as a credit card or debit card. So it will be a true cash refund, not a Ticketmaster credit.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster’s event ticket insurance provides a refund option if you can’t attend an event for covered reasons like illness, travel issues, military service, and more. While the extra insurance cost may seem unnecessary, it can give peace of mind knowing you won’t lose money on unused tickets. Evaluate your personal tolerance for risk to decide if Ticketmaster ticket insurance is a smart choice to protect your concert, sports, theater or other event ticket purchase.