What Is Ticket Assurance and How Does It Work?
Learn about ticket assurance, an optional service designed to protect your event ticket purchase from unforeseen personal circumstances.
Ticket assurance offers financial protection for event tickets against unforeseen circumstances that prevent attendance. This optional protection is typically acquired during the ticket purchase process, aiming to mitigate potential financial losses if a ticket holder cannot attend an event as planned. Its purpose is to offer peace of mind.
Understanding Ticket Assurance
Ticket assurance is a service providing financial recourse beyond the standard refund policies of event organizers or venues. While organizers generally offer refunds only if an event is canceled or significantly postponed, ticket assurance addresses personal unforeseen events preventing attendance. This protection is an add-on service, often provided by third-party insurance companies or specialized refund service providers, rather than directly by the ticket vendor.
Covered Circumstances and Limitations
Ticket assurance policies commonly cover a range of unforeseen circumstances that could impede attendance. These often include:
Personal illness or injury affecting the ticket holder or a close family member.
Traffic accidents, mechanical breakdowns, or significant public transportation delays preventing travel.
Unexpected work obligations, such as jury duty, military service, or employer termination.
A home becoming uninhabitable due to fire, flood, or natural disaster.
Despite broad coverage, policies have specific limitations. They do not cover a simple change of mind or a decision not to attend without a qualifying reason. Pre-existing medical conditions may be excluded. Most policies do not provide refunds if the event is canceled by the organizer, as this responsibility falls to the venue or promoter. General bad weather that does not prevent travel or an event’s partial cancellation due to weather are not covered reasons for reimbursement.
How to Utilize Ticket Assurance
Ticket assurance is offered as an add-on during online checkout when purchasing event tickets. Review the policy’s terms and conditions before purchase, as coverage and exclusions vary between providers. The cost for this protection ranges from $2 to $8.99 per order or per ticket, depending on the event and provider.
If an event occurs that might trigger a claim, the procedure involves timely notification to the assurance provider. Policies often require claims to be filed within a specific timeframe after the missed event, such as within 60 days. Documentation required to support a claim varies based on the reason for non-attendance.
For illness or injury, a doctor’s note or medical certificate detailing the inability to attend is necessary. For travel disruption, evidence from the local transport authority or a police report for an accident might be requested. Official documents like a jury summons or an employer termination letter are needed for work-related claims. These documents, along with unused tickets and proof of purchase, are submitted through the provider’s online portal, email, or mail. After submission, the assurance provider processes the claim, which may involve a review period, and communicates the outcome and any approved reimbursement.