When buying tickets to concerts, sporting events, or other live entertainment through Ticketmaster, customers have the option to add ticket insurance at the time of purchase. This insurance, called Ticketmaster Ticket Assurance, provides coverage in case you can’t attend the event due to certain covered circumstances. But what if you forgot to add the insurance when you bought your tickets? Is there a way to add Ticketmaster’s ticket insurance after you’ve already completed your purchase?
The Basics of Ticketmaster Ticket Assurance
Ticketmaster’s Ticket Assurance provides a refund of the ticket price (minus the cost of insurance) if ticket holders can’t attend an event due to one of the following covered reasons:
- You or your event companion are sick or injured
- You have transportation issues like a flat tire, accident, or vehicle breakdown
- You’re involved in a traffic accident on the way to the event
- Your home is damaged by fire, flood, burglary, or natural disaster within 48 hours of the event
- You or a companion are called into active military service
This insurance provides peace of mind in case life gets in the way of attending the event. Ticket Assurance must be added no later than 7 days after the original ticket purchase. The cost is typically around 10% of the ticket price.
Can You Add Insurance After Purchase?
Unfortunately, Ticketmaster does not allow Ticket Assurance to be added after the initial 7 day purchase window. The insurance must be selected at the time you buy your tickets in order to have coverage.
According to Ticketmaster’s website:
To purchase Ticket Assurance you must select it as an option at the time you purchase your tickets. Ticket Assurance cannot be added after your initial purchase.
So if you neglected to add the insurance when you bought your tickets, you are out of luck. There is no way to retroactively add Ticket Assurance. You’ll have to go without the coverage for that particular event.
Why Insurance Can’t Be Added Later
There are a few reasons why Ticketmaster does not allow ticket insurance to be added after the initial purchase window:
- Insurance principles – Insurance policies are based on assessing risk at the time of purchase. Allowing customers to add insurance after the fact would go against basic insurance practices.
- Potential for abuse – Customers could wait until they know they can’t attend an event due to unforeseen reasons, then try to quickly add insurance to claim a refund. This could lead to increased costs for Ticketmaster.
- Logistical issues – Adding insurance after purchase would require adjustments to orders and customer service efforts that may be infeasible.
By limiting the insurance window, Ticketmaster can properly underwrite and price the Ticket Assurance program while avoiding potential losses from customers trying to take advantage.
What Are Your Options If You Missed the Ticket Assurance Deadline?
If you forgot to add Ticketmaster Ticket Assurance when you purchased your tickets, you do have a few options:
- See if the event organizer or venue offers any insurance options. This is unlikely, but it’s worth checking.
- See if your personal insurance policies like home or auto insurance provide any coverage for missed events. You can check your policy documents or call your insurance company to ask.
- Resell or gift your tickets through Ticketmaster. You can relist tickets for sale or transfer them to someone else through Ticketmaster’s ticket exchange.
- Sell tickets through other exchanges like StubHub where you may recoup some of your costs.
- Chalk it up as a lost expense. If it’s a high demand event, you likely won’t get your money back unless you purchased cancel-for-any-reason travel insurance when you booked related costs like flights or hotels.
While none of these options allow you to add Ticket Assurance retroactively, they do provide some ways to handle unused tickets when life gets in the way of attending an event.
How to Remember Ticket Assurance in the Future
To avoid finding yourself uninsured for future Ticketmaster purchases, here are some tips to remember to add Ticket Assurance when buying tickets:
- Select the insurance option whenever prompted during the ticketing flow. Don’t dismiss or postpone the offer.
- Add a reminder on your calendar for a few days after ticket purchase. Check if you added insurance or not.
- Create a ticket purchase checklist that includes “Purchase TicketAssurance”. Go through this list for every event.
- Set a recurring alarm on your phone labeled “Ticket Insurance” for 3-5 days after you typically buy tickets.
- Add Ticket Assurance to your routine purchase habits so it becomes second nature.
By making Ticket Assurance part of your regular ticketing workflow, you can avoid the sunk cost of uninsured tickets that go unused. A little diligence upfront can provide peace of mind down the road.
Does Ticketmaster Ever Make Exceptions?
Ticketmaster does occasionally make limited exceptions to allow Ticket Assurance to be added late, but this is rare and handled on a case-by-case basis. Don’t count on being able to add insurance after the normal deadline. Exceptions are typically only made for extenuating circumstances like:
- Death in the immediate family shortly before the event
- Sudden serious illness or injury leaving you hospitalized
- Significant accident, disaster, or emergency impacting your ability to attend
In these cases, you would need to contact Ticketmaster customer service as soon as possible and provide documentation supporting your circumstances. But again, exceptions are granted infrequently and at Ticketmaster’s sole discretion.
Key Takeaways
Here are some key points to remember about Ticketmaster Ticket Assurance:
- Insurance must be added within 7 days of ticket purchase – no exceptions!
- There is no way to add insurance retroactively in the normal course of business
- Set reminders and routines to make sure you always add the insurance when buying tickets
- In very rare cases, exceptions may be made for extreme circumstances if you contact support right away
- If you miss the insurance deadline, look into alternative options like reselling tickets to recoup costs
Following these tips will ensure you don’t miss out on Ticket Assurance when booking your next event through Ticketmaster. With the right systems in place, you can attend events with confidence knowing you have ticket insurance as a backup plan.
FAQs
Does Ticketmaster offer any other type of ticket insurance?
No, Ticket Assurance is the only insurance product offered directly through Ticketmaster. Any other insurance coverage would need to be purchased separately from a third party insurer.
Can I add Ticket Assurance if I received the tickets as a gift?
No, only the original ticket purchaser can add Ticket Assurance within 7 days of purchase. If you receive gifted tickets, there is no way to add insurance afterwards.
What if I’m waiting on a group decision about insurance?
The 7 day window applies regardless of group size or decision making timelines. To have the insurance, at least one person in the group must add it within 7 days of the initial ticket purchase.
What if I buy just a few hours past the deadline?
There are no exceptions for being just slightly past the 7 day cutoff for Ticket Assurance. All purchases are subject to the same deadline, no matter how soon after it expires.
Can I appeal if my request to add insurance later is denied?
There is no appeals process if Ticketmaster denies a late request for Ticket Assurance. The 7 day policy is strictly enforced except in the rarest of extenuating circumstances.
The Bottom Line
Ticketmaster Ticket Assurance provides valuable insurance against missed events, but it must be added at initial ticket purchase. There is no way to retroactively add coverage except in very limited extreme situations. Your best recourse is setting reminders and making Ticket Assurance part of your routine buying habits. While you may sometimes have to eat the cost of uninsured tickets, consistent diligence will maximize the chance you can take advantage of this insurance option in the future.
