Insuring Your Ticketmaster Tickets: Is It Worth It?

Ticket insurance is a type of protection that reimburses your ticket purchase if you can't attend an event for covered unexpected reasons. Ticketmaster, the world's largest ticket seller, offers ticket insurance to its customers. This insurance is provided by Allianz Global Assistance and costs about 10% of the ticket price. While some people have claimed that Ticketmaster's ticket insurance is a scam, others have found it useful in case they are unable to attend an event due to an emergency.

Ticket insurance cost

Ticket insurance is a type of protection that reimburses your ticket purchase if you can't attend an event for covered unexpected reasons. Ticket insurance covers your ticket cost if you can't travel due to illness, injury, flight cancellations, etc. It does not usually cover travel costs.

Ticketmaster, in partnership with Allianz Partners, offers Event Ticket Protector insurance. This insurance costs about 10% of the ticket price, which can range from a few dollars to over a hundred dollars. For example, if your ticket purchase totalled $75, you will get $75 back if you cannot make the event due to a covered circumstance.

If you purchased Allianz Event Ticket Insurance for an event that has been rescheduled and you plan to attend on the rescheduled date, you can update your plan to protect the new date. If your event has been cancelled or you cannot make the rescheduled event date, you can cancel your plan and receive a full refund of the plan's cost.

To file a claim, you will need solid documentation of your circumstances to receive coverage for most claims, such as doctor's notes, police reports, or employer letters.

Reasons for ticket cancellation

Ticketmaster offers Allianz Event Ticket Insurance, which covers a range of circumstances that may cause you to cancel your ticket. Here are some reasons for ticket cancellation that are generally covered by event ticket insurance:

Covered Illness or Injury

If you or an event companion are unable to attend due to illness or injury, this is typically a valid reason for cancellation. This also includes situations where a family member is hospitalized or requires your care.

Traffic Accidents

Accidents can happen, and if you are involved in a traffic accident that prevents you from getting to the event, this is usually a covered reason for cancellation.

Mechanical Breakdown

If your car breaks down within a specified time frame before the event, such as 48 hours, this could be a valid reason for cancellation.

Airline Delays or Cancelled Flights

In the case of flight delays or cancellations that affect your ability to attend the event, these are typically covered reasons. However, it is important to note that there may be specific conditions or exclusions related to airline issues.

Jury Duty or Military Orders

Being called for jury duty or receiving military orders that conflict with the event date are generally accepted reasons for ticket cancellation.

Relocation

If you are relocated by your company and move a significant distance, such as over 100 miles away, this could be a valid reason for cancellation.

It is important to carefully review the terms and conditions of your specific ticket insurance policy, as there may be exclusions or limitations to the covered reasons for cancellation. Additionally, keep in mind that ticket insurance does not typically cover event cancellations or delays initiated by the venue or promoter.

Ticketmaster's insurance provider

Ticketmaster is the world's largest ticket seller, handling around 70% of all event tickets sold in the US. The company offers ticket insurance to its customers, which is underwritten by Allianz Partners, who have been Ticketmaster's exclusive event ticket protection provider since 2006. Allianz Event Ticket Insurance costs around 10% of the ticket price, which can range from a few dollars to over a hundred dollars.

Ticket insurance is a type of protection that reimburses your ticket purchase if you can't attend an event for certain covered, unexpected reasons. This includes covered illness or injury, a family member's hospitalisation, traffic accidents, mechanical breakdown of your car within 48 hours of the event, covered delays to your flight or other common carrier, jury duty, relocation by your company more than 100 miles away, and military orders.

Customers can purchase ticket insurance as an add-on when they buy tickets to live events like sports games and concerts. The insurance policy covers the ticket price, taxes, convenience fees, shipping charges, and other eligible event-related items such as parking. However, it is important to note that ticket insurance does not cover the event being cancelled or delayed by the venue or promoter for any reason. In such cases, customers would have to rely on the promoter or venue issuing voluntary refunds.

While Ticketmaster recommends purchasing ticket insurance, some customers have criticised it as a scam, claiming that Allianz Global Assistance does everything it can to avoid paying out. These customers have reported issues with receiving their refunds, despite submitting valid claims and providing the required documentation.

Ticket insurance claims

Ticket insurance is a type of protection that reimburses your ticket purchase if you can't attend an event for covered, unexpected reasons. Ticketmaster, in partnership with Allianz Partners, offers Event Ticket Protector insurance to its customers. This insurance costs about 10% of the ticket price and covers a range of situations that may prevent you from attending an event.

If you have purchased Ticket Insurance from Ticketmaster and need to make a claim, the following steps outline the process:

• Filing a Claim: Visit eventticketprotection.com/tm to file a claim online. Alternatively, you can contact the Allianz Global Assistance claims office by calling (800) 334-7525.
• Documentation: Gather solid documentation to support your claim. This may include doctor's notes, police reports, employer letters, or other relevant evidence.
• Claim Review: Allianz Global Assistance representatives will review your claim and the provided documentation. They may request additional information if needed.
• Approval or Denial: After reviewing your claim, Allianz will make a determination to approve or deny your claim. If your claim is approved, you will be reimbursed according to the terms of your policy.
• Dispute Resolution: In the event that your claim is denied and you believe it should be covered, you may need to seek legal assistance. However, as noted by attorney Ochoa, the coverage is narrow, and pursuing legal action for a rejected claim may not always be financially feasible.

It is important to carefully review the terms and conditions of your ticket insurance policy to understand the specific coverage and exclusions. Additionally, keep in mind that ticket insurance typically does not cover event cancellations or delays initiated by the venue or promoter.

Ticket insurance criticism

Ticket insurance has been criticised for its narrow coverage and numerous exclusions. For example, the insurance does not protect ticket purchases in the case of "the event being cancelled or delayed by the venue or promoter for any reason". This means that if an event is cancelled or postponed, customers' only hope of a refund is if the promoter or venue voluntarily issues refunds, rather than through any ticket insurance policy.

Another criticism is the extensive documentation required to receive coverage for most claims. Customers need solid documentation of their circumstances, such as doctor's notes, police reports, or employer letters. The process of submitting and waiting for a claim decision can be time-consuming and cumbersome.

The cost of ticket insurance has also been scrutinised. While it typically costs around 10% of the ticket price, this amount can range from a few dollars to over a hundred dollars, depending on the ticket price. For expensive tickets, the insurance cost can be significant.

Some have questioned the value of ticket insurance, arguing that it is not a catch-all solution. While it may provide peace of mind, the reality is that it only covers a limited number of specific circumstances. The coverage is narrow, and there are many exclusions. As a result, customers may find that their claims are rejected, and pursuing legal action on a rejected claim is often financially impractical.

Ticket insurance has also been criticised for potentially encouraging price gouging and monopolistic behaviour. With Ticketmaster, the world's largest ticket seller, handling around 70% of all event tickets sold in the US, there is a lack of competition in the market. This allows Ticketmaster to charge high fees and offer exclusive add-ons like ticket insurance, further increasing the cost for customers.

Frequently asked questions