Purchasing ticket insurance on Ticketmaster is an option that many ticket buyers consider when making their ticket purchases. Ticket insurance provides the ability to get a refund on the price of tickets if certain covered situations come up that prevent you from attending the event. While ticket insurance may seem appealing and provide peace of mind, there are some important factors to consider when determining if it is worth the extra cost.
What does ticket insurance on Ticketmaster cover?
Ticketmaster’s ticket insurance, called Ticket Assurance, allows you to get a refund on the price of the ticket (excluding fees) for the following covered reasons:
- You or anyone in your party gets sick or injured and cannot attend the event
- You have a death in the family shortly before the event
- You get into a traffic accident on the way to the event
- Your flight gets cancelled or you miss your flight to the event
- You have jury duty or are subpoenaed and cannot attend the event
- Severe weather in your area prevents you from attending the event
As you can see, the Ticket Assurance policy covers many common reasons that unexpected situations come up that could prevent you from using your tickets. Keep in mind that you will need to provide documentation supporting your reason for getting a refund, such as a doctor’s note.
What does ticket insurance on Ticketmaster NOT cover?
While Ticketmaster’s ticket insurance covers many bases, there are some scenarios where you would not be able to get a refund with the insurance:
- You simply change your mind and decide you no longer want to attend
- A family emergency comes up but it is not a death in the family
- You have other non-jury court obligations that prevent you from attending
- Travel delays prevent you from getting to the event, except for flight cancellations
- The event is postponed or rescheduled
- You or anyone in your party is denied entry to the event for any reason
As you can see, Ticket Assurance does not allow refunds for simply changing your mind or common travel delays. And if the event itself gets postponed or you cannot attend for reasons not specifically covered, the insurance will not provide a refund either.
How much does ticket insurance on Ticketmaster cost?
The cost of Ticketmaster’s ticket insurance depends on the price of the ticket. It is an additional cost added if you opt into the insurance when purchasing your tickets. Here is a breakdown of how much ticket insurance costs based on ticket price ranges:
Ticket Price Range | Ticket Assurance Cost |
---|---|
$1-$49.99 | $2.25 |
$50-$99.99 | $4.35 |
$100-$199.99 | $6.45 |
$200-$499.99 | $8.55 |
$500+ | 2% of ticket cost |
As you can see, for lower cost tickets under $50, the insurance adds a flat $2.25 to your order. For higher priced tickets, it is a percentage of the ticket cost ranging from 2-6% depending on price. So for more expensive tickets, it can add a sizable amount to your total order cost.
What are the pros of getting ticket insurance on Ticketmaster?
There are some advantages that come with getting ticket insurance on your Ticketmaster purchase:
- Peace of mind – The top benefit is that it allows you to feel reassured that you can get your money back if an unexpected issue comes up that prevents you from attending. This can provide comfort knowing you won’t lose money if something happens.
- Covers many common issues – As we saw from the coverage list earlier, Ticket Assurance covers most of the common reasons that force people to miss events, like injury, weather, travel issues, etc. For these common problems outside your control, the insurance has you covered.
- Quick refunds – Ticketmaster promises a “fast and easy” refund process for Ticket Assurance claims. So you can get your money back promptly if you need to file a claim.
- Convenient add-on – The insurance is very easy to add onto your ticket purchase at checkout on Ticketmaster. So it is convenient and seamless to opt into the coverage when buying tickets.
Overall, the main value comes from the peace of mind and assurance that you won’t lose your full investment if you can’t attend for valid reasons outside your control.
What are the cons of getting ticket insurance on Ticketmaster?
On the other hand, there are also some downsides to consider with Ticketmaster’s ticket insurance offering:
- Added cost – The insurance comes at an added cost on top of an already expensive ticket purchase. For high priced tickets, it can add a lot onto your total order cost.
- May be unnecessary – If you very rarely have to miss events you buy tickets for, the insurance may be an unnecessary extra cost in most cases.
- Doesn’t cover changed plans – As mentioned earlier, the insurance does not cover you simply changing your mind or personal plans coming up. So if that happens, you lose your investment.
- Documentation is required – To get an approved refund, you need to provide documentation of the covered reason you are missing the event, which can be a hassle.
- Postponed events uncovered – If the event simply gets rescheduled or postponed, the insurance provides no refund. Many events have been postponed frequently due to COVID.
For many buyers, the extra cost provides limited value and does not outweigh the downsides in most cases. But it depends on your personal situation.
Who is ticket insurance on Ticketmaster best suited for?
While not for everyone, there are some cases where getting ticket insurance on Ticketmaster can be worth it:
- If you are buying very expensive tickets – For costly tickets, the peace of mind coverage has higher perceived value.
- If you have health conditions – Those with health issues or elderly attendees may see more value to cover illness.
- If you are traveling to the event – Out of town travelers have higher chances of flight or other travel disruptions.
- If the event is far in the future – The further out the event, the more chance of an issue coming up.
- If you have little flexibility – People with inflexible, hard-to-change schedules/responsibilities.
In these cases, the ticket insurance may provide enough value to justify the extra cost. But for many buyers, it adds unnecessary costs for little added benefit.
Tips on deciding if you should get ticket insurance on Ticketmaster
When deciding whether or not to purchase ticket insurance on Ticketmaster, here are some tips:
- Consider the total ticket cost – The higher the ticket price, the more risk of losing money you take on. Expensive ticket purchases are smarter to protect.
- Think about your schedule flexibility – If you have a busy schedule or tight responsibilities, insurance helps guard against conflicts.
- Reflect on how often you had to miss events in the past – If you rarely have had issues come up, insurance is less needed.
- Read the details carefully – Understand exactly what is and isn’t covered to set proper expectations.
- Compare the insurance cost to total order cost – If it’s a small percentage, it may be worth the peace of mind.
- Consider if you could comfortably afford to lose the ticket cost – If it would be a big financial hit, insure yourself.
Taking these factors into account can help you decide if purchasing ticket insurance makes sense for your personal situation and the event you are attending.
Common questions about Ticketmaster’s ticket insurance
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Ticketmaster’s ticket insurance offering:
Can you get a refund on ticket insurance?
No, once you purchase ticket insurance it is non-refundable. You cannot get your money back for purchasing the insurance, even if you end up not needing to use it.
Can you buy ticket insurance after initial ticket purchase?
Unfortunately no. You are only able to purchase ticket insurance during the initial ticket transaction. It is not possible to add it on after already completing your ticket purchase.
How soon after the event can you file an insurance claim?
Insurance claims must be filed within 5 days after the event takes place in order to be eligible for a refund. The claim will also need proper documentation supporting the reason for your absence.
What if only one person in the group can’t attend?
You can get a refund for just the person in your group who couldn’t attend due to a covered circumstance. The other ticket holders would still be able to use their tickets for the event.
Can the ticket be transferred after getting a refund?
No, once a refund is issued for the ticket, that ticket is no longer valid for entry. The insurer takes over the ticket essentially, so it cannot be transferred or resold at that point.
The bottom line – weigh the pros and cons carefully
At the end of the day, there is no universal answer on whether or not purchasing ticket insurance on Ticketmaster is a smart move. There are reasonable pros and cons on both sides to consider. In many cases it may not provide enough value to justify the extra cost. But for certain situations and buyer profiles, it can be a prudent option to protect your investment. Carefully think through your own personal factors, risk tolerance, and the cost-benefit trade-off. Weigh the pros and cons outlined here based on your own needs and circumstances. This can help you make an informed decision on if paying extra for ticket insurance is right for you.