What Asurion Phone Insurance Covers and What It Doesn’t

Asurion phone insurance covers accidental damage from handling (drops, spills, cracked screens), mechanical and electrical failures after the manufacturer’s warranty expires, and, on most carrier plans, loss and theft. It is sold through AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile rather than as a single uniform product, so the exact scope, deductibles, and claim limits depend on which carrier plan you’re enrolled in.

The Four Things Asurion Covers

Carrier-based Asurion plans are built around four categories of risk.

Accidental damage from handling. Everyday mishaps: dropping your phone on concrete, knocking it into a sink, sitting on it. Liquid damage falls under this umbrella and is treated the same as any other accidental damage in the claims process.¹

Mechanical and electrical failures. A screen that goes black on its own, a charging port that stops working, a battery that won’t hold a charge. These are covered even after the original manufacturer’s warranty runs out.²

Loss. A misplaced phone is covered on carrier plans that include loss-and-theft protection, which is bundled into the full protection tier rather than a basic plan.

Theft. Same bundling: available on the full plans, not the basic tiers.

Screen repairs are the most common claim and get their own pricing. Asurion advertises cracked screen repairs starting at $29, usually finished in about 45 minutes at one of more than 700 uBreakiFix by Asurion locations, with mail-in and come-to-you options as well.³⁴⁵

What Asurion Does Not Cover

The exclusions matter as much as the coverage, because they’re where most unexpected denials start.

Cosmetic damage. Scratches, dents, and dings that don’t affect how the phone works are not covered.⁶
Pre-existing damage. Any problem that existed before you enrolled is excluded.
Intentional damage and misuse. Damage you caused on purpose, or damage from unauthorized modifications or repairs, won’t be covered.
Software problems. Viruses, operating system glitches, and data loss unrelated to a hardware failure fall outside the plan.
Non-original accessories. Items not included in the original device box, like third-party cases or chargers, aren’t eligible.⁶

Plans also exclude damage from natural disasters and extreme weather, and some exclude devices located outside the United States or devices without a valid serial number. The specific terms vary by carrier, so the terms and conditions document for your particular program is worth a few minutes before you need to rely on it.

How Coverage Differs By Carrier

Asurion administers protection plans branded by each wireless carrier, and the details differ in ways that affect what “covered” actually looks like when you file.

AT&T Protect Advantage

Costs $14 to $25 per month depending on device tier, with six tiers based on phone value. Covers loss, theft, accidental damage, and post-warranty malfunctions with unlimited claims, each capped at $3,500. Screen, back glass, and battery repairs carry a $0 service fee for eligible devices.⁷ Replacement deductibles run from $25 at Tier 1 up to $400 for high-end foldables at Tier 6. Most current-generation iPhones and Samsung Galaxy S-series phones sit at Tier 4, with a $275 deductible.⁸

Verizon Mobile Protect

Includes loss, theft, and damage coverage. Damage replacements carry a $99 deductible per claim for devices that aren’t eligible for a screen or back glass repair. If a customer’s loss-and-theft deductible happens to be less than $99, the damage deductible is adjusted down to match.⁹ Cracked screen and back glass repairs are available for select smartphones at uBreakiFix. Approved repairs and replacements come with a 12-month limited warranty.

T-Mobile Protection 360

Costs $7 to $26 per month per device. Technically administered by Assurant rather than Asurion, though the coverage structure is similar. Provides unlimited claims for accidental damage and mechanical failures, and up to five loss or theft claims per rolling 12-month period. Front screen repairs are $0 for eligible smartphones, and back glass repairs run $0 to $29 depending on tier.¹⁰ Replacement deductibles range from $20 at the lowest tier to $275 at the highest.¹¹

How Many Claims You Actually Get

Coverage is only as useful as the number of times you can draw on it. Most carrier-based Asurion programs allow two to three claims per 12-month period for loss, theft, or physical damage.¹² AT&T is the outlier, offering unlimited claims with each capped at $3,500.⁷ T-Mobile allows unlimited accidental damage claims but caps loss and theft at five per rolling 12 months.⁵ Check your plan tier before you need to file.

What You Get Back: New Or Refurbished

A replacement phone may be new or refurbished, depending on stock and model age. Asurion states that all refurbished units go through comprehensive testing and quality control, including battery replacement when needed, port cleaning, and network compatibility checks. New and refurbished replacements carry the same warranty.¹³ Devices are certified to function like new, though they may show very minor cosmetic signs of previous use.¹⁴

One detail worth knowing before you accept a replacement: you must return the damaged or found device within 15 days of receiving the new one. Failing to do so triggers a non-return fee that can reach $850.⁷¹³

How It Compares To The Manufacturer’s Warranty

A manufacturer’s warranty from Apple or Samsung is free, lasts about a year, and only covers defects in materials and workmanship. It won’t help with drops, loss, theft, or liquid damage. Asurion’s insurance is designed to fill those gaps, covering accidental damage, loss, and theft on top of post-warranty mechanical failures.² Asurion itself notes that carrying both a protection plan and the manufacturer’s warranty is generally unnecessary, since the protection plan duplicates and expands on what the warranty already covers.¹⁵

If A Covered Claim Is Denied

Claim denials are among the most common complaints about Asurion. According to Better Business Bureau data, the company has received 1,411 complaints in the past three years, with service and repair issues the largest share.¹⁶ Recurring issues include denials based on alleged pre-existing damage, claims rejected because of per-year claim caps, and replacement devices of lower quality than expected.

Asurion maintains an internal claims reconsideration process. Submitting a written escalation to both Asurion’s claims review team and your carrier’s executive customer relations department helps establish a documented record. Because Asurion is regulated as an insurance provider, you can also file a complaint with your state’s insurance department. The Federal Communications Commission, which regulates wireless carriers, and the Better Business Bureau are additional escalation paths.¹⁷

1
Asurion. What Is Accidental Damage for Tech
2
Asurion. Cell Phone Insurance vs. Warranty: What’s the Difference
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Asurion. Cell Phone Screen Repair
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AT&T. Device Protection
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T-Mobile. Phone Protection Plans
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Insurify. Asurion Device Insurance
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AT&T. Protect Advantage Terms
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AT&T. AT&T Protect Advantage Program Changes
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Asurion. Verizon Mobile Protect
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T-Mobile. Protection 360 and Device Protection
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Assurant. Insurance Deductible Schedule
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Asurion. Mobile Insurance FAQs
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Asurion. How Asurion Phone Replacement Works
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Asurion. How to Tell If Your Replacement Phone Is Certified
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Asurion. Manufacturer Warranty vs. Protection Plan
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BBB. Asurion Complaints
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JustAnswer. Verizon Asurion Coverage Claim Complaint