Is My Phone Covered Under A Standard Homeowners Insurance Policy
As a new homeowner, Im curious about what all is covered under my insurance. I have a cellphone that was pretty expensive, and I worry about something happening to it and needing to replace it or it being stolen. Is my phone covered under standard homeowners insurance policies?
Yes. Just like any other type of personal property, homeowners insurance provides coverage for cellphones for the same scenarios it would for everything else. However, if a phone is extremely valuable, you might want to purchase extra coverage to insure it for the full replacement cost. There are also specialized endorsements for electronics that you can buy.
How Can I Get Insurance For My Apple Iphone
How can I get insurance for my Apple iPhone?
As you likely already know, and as has become the case with higher 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, does it? “What?” you say, “I paid $199 for my iPhone”. That may be true, but it is important to know that those prices are subsidized by your mobile carrier and are one-time purchase prices only. If you damage or lose your iPhone, you’ll need to replace that phone at full price .
Of course not. Luckily, there are still several options out there that will help cover you should something happen to your iPhone.
AppleCare
AppleCare does not provide coverage for accidental damage, which means that drops, spills, splashes, and anything and everything else that Apple can attribute to your misuse rather than a product failure will not be covered by AppleCare.
Delaney Simchuk Car Insurance Writer
@delaney_simchuk09/09/22 This answer was first published on 09/09/22. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.
The State Farm phone number is for general inquiries, and customer service representatives are available 24 hours, seven days a week. You can also contact State Farm by logging in to your State Farm account online or visiting a local agent.
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Other State Farm Premier Cash Rewards Credit Card Benefits
- Cell Phone Protection: Up to $600 in theft and damage protection if the phone bill is paid with the card.
- ID Theft Protection: ID Navigator Powered by NortonLifeLock for cardholders.
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Rent with the card and auto protection is included.
- Purchase Protection: 90 days of protection is automatically guaranteed when eligible purchases are made with the card.
Whats The Difference Between Mobile Phone Insurance And Renters Insurance
In addition to any coverage youd have from your homeowners or renters insurance, there are specific, third-party plans that are just meant to cover your phone. The standalone plans might be available through your phones retailer , while others are purchased via your carrier
There are a few consistent differences between these specific phone protection plans and how your renters or homeowners policy would cover your cell phone.
First off, nearly all of these plans available from your carrier or retailer would cover accidental damage , while renters insurance does not.
On the other hand, retailers dont provide insurance for phone theft in their base plan, while renters or homeowners insurance policies would protect you if your iPhone or Android is stolen.
That said, some retailer- or carrier-provided insurance plans might protect your phone against accidental loss or theft. Make sure you ask for the details of your specific policy.
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Emergency Road Service Coverage
For a few extra dollars a month, youll be partially covered with roadside assistance for lockouts, jump starts, tire changes, and towing. When you need the service, you can call a service number or request aid from your mobile app or computer. And your rep will arrange for help to reach you as soon as possible. This coverage option is best for people who want peace of mind.
State Farm Car Insurance Discounts
Like most large insurance companies, State Farm offers many discount opportunities to policyholders. You should take advantage of any discount available to you or one you can easily attain, like completing a defensive driving course. Stacking discounts gets you the best deal of all. Dont forget to speak with your State Farm agent about any discounts you may be missing.
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How Much Cellphone Insurance Coverage Do I Need
Cellphone insurance providers frequently base coverage amounts on the make, model, and age of the phone to be insured. However, if you do need to determine the value of your policy, its a good idea to insure your phone for the market value. Doing so can make it easier to receive or purchase a comparable replacement in the event your phone cannot be repaired.
Priority Among Cell Phone Carriers In State Farm
Below, I share my impressions about prioritization policies among the three major networks and other cell phone services I recommend in State Farm. Carriers often aren’t transparent about prioritization policies, so some of the information is speculation based on my research.
- Verizon: Most postpaid subscribers get some high-priority data. Start Unlimited subscribers and customers on prepaid plans get lower priority.
- AT& T: Most postpaid and prepaid AT& T plans include some high-priority data. The Unlimited Starter plan and the Unlimited Prepaid plans do not include any high-priority data.
- T-Mobile: Most postpaid and prepaid plans include high-priority data. The Essentials plan has low-priority data.
- Mint: Subscribers have low-priority data.
- US Mobile: Subscribers have low-priority data. High-priority data options may be coming for the Super LTE service.
- Visible: Subscribers have low-priority data on Visible’s standard plan. The Visible+ plan includes 50GB of high-priority data.
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What Car Insurance Discounts Does State Farm Offer
State Farm offers a ton of discounts, including the good driver discount, defensive driving course discount, discounts for car safety features like airbags and passive restraints, and bundling . There is also a telematics program called Drive Safe & Save, where you can track your driving with your cell phone and receive discounts for good habits.
Best For Iphones: Applecare+
- Average Monthly Premium: $9.99 per month
- Available Policies: AppleCare+, AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss
AppleCare+ provides affordable coverage that is specific to iPhone and other Apple devices, making it the best option for iPhone users.
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Certified Apple parts and technicians
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Theft and loss policy options
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Additional application steps if starting a policy 60 or more days after initial iPhone purchase
A new iPhone can easily cost close to $1,000, which can make insurance a smart investment. While most cellphone insurance providers will happily cover iPhones, customers looking for the best insurance may want to go straight to the source. AppleCare+ makes it easy to protect a phone and get ongoing support from experts who understand the hardware, operating system, and applications that make Apple products unique. Thats why weve selected AppleCare+ as the best option for iPhone users.
AppleCare offers two different policies: AppleCare+ and AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss. Both policies cover up to two incidents of accidental damage protection annually and offer coverage if a battery retains 80% or less of its original charging capacity. AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss provides additional coverage if the device is lost or stolen.
For customers considering AppleCare+, its best to add the policy within 60 days of purchasing the iPhone. If that window has closed, a visit to an Apple Store may be required to add a policy.
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Why Get Cell Phone Insurance
A phone’s standard warranty typically covers hardware and software defects for a short time. But what if you crack your screen or spill coffee on it?
Progressive’s Phone and Electronic Device Insurance by Worth Ave. Group offers protection the manufacturer’s warranty doesn’t. With it, you’re covered from many of life’s mishaps. Without it, you could be on the hook for hundreds of dollars to repair your phone or buy a new one.
How Does Cell Phone Coverage Work
As long as you pay your monthly smartphone bill with an eligible Wells Fargo consumer credit card, youll get up to $600 in cell phone protection, subject to a very reasonable $25 deductible.
Wells Fargo recommends that you set up automatic recurring payments via your WF credit card, but its not a requirement to gain the coverage.
Just make sure youre paying the bill with a Wells credit card because youll need to provide that if and when you file a claim.
For the record, this coverage is only good for accidental damages and theft to the phone coverage does not apply if the phone is lost or mysteriously disappears. So no funny business folks.
To file a claim, you need to give notice within sixty days of damage or theft by calling the benefit administrator at 866-804-4770.
Within 90 days, you must complete and return a signed claim form with all requested documentation.
They say under normal circumstances youll get reimbursement within 10 business days.
Like other insurance policies, there are a number of exclusions you should know about, which you can read about here. For example, phones stolen from construction sites arent covered, nor are mobile phones stolen from checked baggage if traveling.
Furthermore, you will not be covered for cosmetic damage, so screen repairs and the like are iffy. It may depend on how well you can operate the phone despite the damage.
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Car Rental And Travel Expenses Coverage
Sometimes, your vehicle needs to spend a few days in the shop. Your car could be disabled from an accident or a mechanical issue. This coverage option provides you with a rental car, paying directly when you use an in-network provider or by reimbursement. It also covers travel costs, such as a hotel, meals, and transport, if an accident is more than 50 miles from home.
Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Coverage
This coverage option protects you if youre hit by an unisured driver or one whose liability coverage limit is not enough to cover the damage . Its a valuable auto insurance coverage option, as many uninsured drivers are on the road and many more lack adequate coverage. In some states, you may be legally required to carry this coverage option.
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What Is State Farm’s Claim Time Limit
State Farm does not have a set time limit for filing claims and will consider a claim even if it is filed months or years after the incident occurred. However, State Farm is more likely to deny a claim if the delay was unreasonable or if it compromised their ability to investigate.read full answer
Your State Farm car insurance policy likely requires you to report an accident promptly or as soon as possible. But even though you have to immediately report the accident, that does not mean you have to immediately file a claim. In fact, you can wait 1-10 years to file a claim, depending on your states laws and the type of claim you need to file.
Its important to keep in mind that the longer you wait to file a claim, the more difficult it will be for your insurance company to investigate and approve it. Filing a claim as soon as possible helps to ensure that everyone remembers the details of the accident and the evidence is still intact, so your claim is less likely to be challenged.
State Farm allows you to file a claim online, over the phone, or through the mobile app. If you have any questions, you can call customer service at 1-800-782-8332.
Is Cell Phone Insurance Worth It
Smartphones are more likely to get damaged than any other electronic device, and the average cell phone repair claim payout is $348.70. Cell phone insurance plans cover repairs not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty as well as theft. It’s like any other insurance plan where you pay a premium for your coverage, and the insurer will pay out for repairs or replacement in the event of a covered loss.
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About The Coverage Model
Coverage Critics predictive model crunches tens of millions of rows of data to assess cell phone coverage quality in cities throughout the U.S.
I believe the model is better than anything else on the market, but its far from perfect. I plan to make improvements to the model, and I expect the underlying data collected by the FCC will improve over time.
On another page, I list internet service providers in State Farm.
Best State Farm Alternatives
Though State Farm provides quality, affordable coverage for many customers, policyholders looking to switch providers have options. Learn more about comparable State Farm competitors to consider below, including Nationwide, Clearcover, and Safeco. Compare quotes with Insurify to find the most affordable rates today.
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How To File A Renters Insurance Claim For A Cellphone
If your cellphone is stolen you should contact the police to file a police report. If someone breaks into your apartment, you should contact the police and then your landlord. Your landlord can help you secure any unsafe areas or repair damage from the break-in. Once you file the police report, you should contact your insurance provider either over the phone, through their website, or their app if they have one.
Things you will need to file a renters insurance claim:
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Your policy number
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Documentation of the damage
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Your police report if the incident involved a theft
If your phone was stolen along with other items, you should make sure to include that in your renters insurance claim. Once you file your claim, your renters insurance provider will assign you a claims adjuster who will begin the process of the investigation to determine if your claim is legitimate and covered by your policy.
If your loss is urgent, you should mention that to your insurance provider. Depending on the incident, it can take weeks to determine if the claim is covered. You should ask your renters insurance provider to give you a timeframe so you have a little peace of mind.
Senior Editor & Licensed Home Insurance Expert
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Best Budget: Square Trade
You know your car is in good hands with Allstate, but did you know your phone can be, too? Square Trade is a subsidiary of this popular insurance company and offers affordable and comprehensive coverage for all of your devices. It’s also much more affordable than other options on the marketthe maximum monthly premium is under $9. Deductibles are also lower than average at just $149 per claim. One of the best perks of this plan is that you pay for coverage, not per device, which means you don’t need to go through the hassle of updating your plan every time you get a new phone. Your coverage will be continuous even if you switch providers, which is convenient for busy professionals or families. You can also cancel at any time, making this an affordable and flexible option.
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Is Cellphone Insurance Worth The Cost
Cellphone insurance may be a worthwhile expense if you frequently damage or lose your phone or if you cant afford the upfront costs associated with repairs or device replacements. This is particularly true for smartphones, which can cost several hundred dollars to replace. Cellphone insurance may also make sense if youre financing a phone and would need to pay off the damaged phone while also purchasing a new one.
Phone Insurance Vs Phone Warranty
In addition to renters insurance and specific device protection plans offered by your carrier or retailer, most manufacturers also provide a phone warranty that covers mechanical or electrical problems with your phone.
If you buy a new smartphone with a two-year warranty, only to see it go kaput in six months through no fault of your own, you have the right to demand that your phone be repaired, replaced, or refunded.
An extended warranty is, well, just what it sounds like. To extend the warranty on your mobile device, youll want to check with your provider about the terms and conditions for applying.
Needless to say, a phone warranty isnt the same thing as cell phone insurance. As we mentioned, your renters insurance company will cover your phone in the event of a covered peril like theft, a fire, and other damages. By contrast, your phone warranty covers only mechanical or electrical defects. It wont cover a stolen smartphone, howeverthats where insurance comes in.
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The Cards Have A Few Nice Perks Like Cell Phone Insurance
The cards vary slightly in perks, but a few notable ones that apply to all three cards:
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Cell phone insurance. You can be reimbursed up to $600 if your cell phone is stolen or damaged. You must pay your monthly wireless phone bill with the State Farm card.
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Auto deductible reimbursement. When you experience a covered expense, this card will reimburse you for up to $200 of your auto insurance deductible. The catch? You’re only eligible for this perk if you make a minimum of eight purchases in the previous month.
Also, note that the two rewards cards are the Visa Signature variety and come with some additional perks.
About the author:Greg Karp is a former NerdWallet writer and an expert in personal finance and credit cards. He previously worked at the Chicago Tribune and wrote two money books.Read more