How do I get insurance claimed for my iPhone?

As you may already know, and as has been the case with high-priced “smartphones” through many providers, traditional mobile phone insurance is not available for the iPhone. That doesn’t mean you want to leave your $500 or $600 iPhone unprotected, right? “What?” You say, “I paid $199 for my iPhone”. That may be true, but it’s important to know that those prices are subsidized by your mobile carrier (ie AT&T) and are just one-time purchase prices. If you damage or lose your iPhone, you’ll need to have that phone replaced at full cost ($499 or $599).

Not at all Fortunately, there are still several options out there that will help cover you if something happens to your iPhone.

AppleCare

AppleCare is Apple’s extended warranty and support program that covers products outside their limited manufacturer’s warranty. In the case of the iPhone, AppleCare will provide an additional year of coverage for defects and repairs, including battery.

AppleCare does not provide coverage for accidental damage, which means drops, spills, splashes, and anything else that could be attributed to your misuse rather than an Apple product failure will not be covered by AppleCare.

Third Party Mobile Phone Insurance

A handful of companies have arisen to fill the gap created by the lack of carrier-provided mobile phone insurance for certain devices. These companies are now offering coverage plans for the iPhone.

SquareTrade, which has been in business since 1999, is offering coverage equivalent to the AppleCare program, called CarePlan, for as little as $30 per year (depending on which model and size of iPhone you need coverage for) is required). Should your iPhone need attention, SquareTrade promises to have it fixed or pay you the full purchase price of the iPhone, all within five days. SquareTrade’s insurance plans have received near-perfect consumer ratings on Nextag and Appinion, and an A+ rating from the BBB (Better Business Bureau). As a result, SquareTrade has sold over 1,000,000 warranties to date.

Despite the reviews and low price, the major factor that sets SquareTrade Warranty apart from AppleCare and other competitors is coverage for accidental damage. SquareTrade is the only licensed insurance provider that covers accidental damages. According to SquareTrade, “drops, spills, water damage, battery failure or any other failure from normal use or accidental damage” are all covered under their plans.

For more information on SquareTrade, visit their SquareTrade iPhone Warranty page directly.

Credit Card Purchase Protection

Many different credit card providers offer purchase protection programs that cover credit card purchases against malfunction and accidental damage. Visa has “Purchase Protection,” American Express has a “Purchase Protection Plan,” while other card providers call their coverage something else. These coverages are usually limited to Gold and Platinum credit cards, but can sometimes be found on standard cards. Unfortunately, most of these plans only cover purchases for 90 days, which often coincides with existing manufacturer warranties.

The good news is that many of these programs extend the manufacturers warranty by up to a year. The bad news is that these warranties will also not cover accidental damage caused by spills, drops, etc. Check with your card provider for details on how your purchases are covered.

Homeowner’s Insurance

If you already have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, you may be able to cover your iPhone through an extension to your existing policy. For example, State Farm will reportedly cover your iPhone for an additional $32.50 per year.

If you’re considering getting your iPhone covered as such, be careful to check with your insurance company about how your deductible plays into claims made to cover the iPhone. If your deductible is $500, chances are you’re not getting a great deal. Be sure to reduce your deductible (which will incur additional costs) or obtain documentation from your insurance company stating that your extended coverage is not subject to your standard deduction. Although some users have reported getting good rates for their iPhone coverage through their homeowners, this route can often be time-consuming and complicated, as it is not really within the specific insurance agent’s area of ​​expertise, To say the least.