A Guide on How Much It Will Cost To Replace a Phone with Asurion

Have you ever lost or damaged your cell phone weeks after buying it? Well, you’re not the only one. As of 2021, however, there has been an increase in the use of cell phone insurance programs, which cover devices against damage, loss, or theft. But then, is any of these insurance policies worth it? And if they are, how much does it cost to replace a phone with Asurion?

In a nutshell, an “uninsured” phone replacement or even repairs can cost you up to several hundred dollars. If it was an unexpected ordeal, that means you could go for several days or weeks without phone service as you prepare.

True, you can finance your dream gadget from buy now pay later catalogs at low monthly payments. But even then, you must meet the requirements, which, sometimes, can be hard to get.

In any case, today we’re going to share with you everything you need to know about the Asurion cell phone replacement policy. The program’s one of the most common that even offer coverage through top phone carriers like Verizon and AT&T.

Do You Really Need a Cell Phone Insurance Policy?

Yes, indeed, is cell phone insurance worth it? Hmm, that depends. If you’re the kind of person who spends $500 just like some pocket change, we don’t see any reason you’ll need to pay for the insurance. Also, you might feel no need to pay for the extra plan if you live alone and you have never had a damaged, stolen, or lost phone in the previous two years.

Nonetheless, as a regular person, with an average income or even less, there’s everything reason to get cell phone insurance. Why’s that?

First, the idea of insuring your locked or unlocked cell phones are pretty much the same as auto insurance. So, just like that Volvo from your local car dealership, the phone insurance will help make the repairs or replacements of your device more affordable.

Usually, the insurance company will ask you to pay about $3 or $15 a month- you can do it separately or together with your current cell phone plan. Then, when you break your device’s screen or drops it into the water, you can get repairs or a replacement at minimal to no cost.

Indeed, you might still have that belief that you’ll be extra careful with your new iPhone or Galaxy device. But your 8-year old child is yet to fully understand the meaning of being responsible. So, even if not for you, you can get the cell phone insurance plan for the sake of the others sharing your phone.

But now begs the question, is Asurion a good cell phone insurance to start with?

Features and Perks of Asurion Cell Phone Insurance

As was mentioned, Asurion is one of the best cell phone insurance programs here in the U.S. The company has even partnered with major phone carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, US Cellular, and Sprint. Thus, enabling you to access the service directly through the carrier’s cellular plans.

Nonetheless, each carrier offers the phone insurance under varying brands, or rather packages. If it’s Verizon, you’ll find the Asurion coverage under Wireless Phone Protection or Mobile Protect plans and Protect Advantage or Mobile Insurance for AT&T.

More on that, each of the insurance plans comes at varying prices, ranging from $3/ month to $17/ month under the single-device package. If you have multiple devices you’d like to insure, these carriers also have multi-device options where you can get the coverage at discounted fees.

Note, the phone insurance package you choose does determine the features and perks you’ll get. In most cases, however, the single device coverage plan will give you:

• Fast repair of the cracked screen at $29 (deductible fee)
• Fast (same-day or next-day) device replacement and setup
• Free battery replacement at the authorized repair facilities
• Unlimited automated backing up of your photos and videos
• 24/7 security advisor support to resolve security vulnerabilities
• Unlimited deep cleaning, diagnostics, and other device performance checks

It’s also worth noting that Asurion usually handles every phone issue differently from the other. The age of your damaged or lost phone is also crucial in that you can get a new replacement device or a certified reconditioned model.

But again, will Asurion still charge you a deductible if you’ll be getting a refurbished device?

How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Phone With Asurion

If your phone’s malfunctioned, damaged, lost, or stolen, you can get a replacement with Asurion insurance. However, you must be eligible to raise a claim, in which case you must have enrolled in a device protection plan. But then, how long before I can file a claim for my phone with Asurion?

Well, once you’ve enrolled in the program, there’s no waiting period before you can file a claim. So, it’s possible to get a replacement even after a week of purchasing your phone. Nonetheless, we won’t recommend going that route if the manufacturer warranty of your device still stands.

Furthermore, there’re several things you’ll need before you can file a claim to replace a phone with Asurion. The items include your carrier’s name, mobile number, make and model of your lost/ damaged device, plus the method of payment for your deductible.

In the last one on deductible, Asurion only accepts card payments, including MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover. The fee is usually non-refundable, but the company only charges you when they approve your claim.

Moreover, Asurion doesn’t charge the deductibles for phone replacements the same. They have set the deductible amounts based on device tiers as shown in the table below.

Device Tiers	Examples of Phone Brands	Replacement Deductibles	Screen Repair Deductibles
Tier A	Samsung Galaxy J3 & LG K40	Up to $25.00	N/A
Tier B	iPhone 5 series & Samsung Galaxy 7	Up to $50.00	N/A
Tier C	iPhone SE/ 6 series & Samsung Galaxy S5/ S6	Up to $125.00	$29 – $49
Tier D	iPhone 7/ 8, Google Pixel 4, & Samsung Galaxy S8/ S9/ S10 series	Up to $200.00	$29 – $49
Tier E	iPhone X/ 11 series, Samsung Galaxy S20 series, & Galaxy Note 10	Up to $250.00	$29 – $49
Tier F	iPad Pro, Samsung Galaxy Fold, et cetera	Up to $299.00	$29 – $49

Note, various carriers also offer the replacement deductibles with Asurion at varying rates. Hence, the reason we’ve used the term “up to”. For instance, Verizon starts the replacement claim at $19 whereas AT&T has it at $25.

Also, the table above only shows a partial list of the devices under Asurion coverage. You can visit your carrier’s claim page for a full list of phone makes and models. If it’s Verizon, you can visit phoneclaim.com/Verizon.

Another thing, Asurion may move the devices to a different deductible tier with time, but they usually update the changes online.

Steps on how to get a free phone from Asurion

Technically, the first step to qualifying for a free phone from Asurion is becoming part of the program. Irrespective of the carrier, you’ll become eligible for the service within 30 days of a new activation or device upgrade.

Alternatively, you can also enroll for device protection under the BYOD (bring your own device) policy. However, that phone you brings has to be:

• Not reported lost or stolen
• In good, fully functioning condition- without any defects or damage
• Activated on a new line of service (not your current/existing line)

Once you pass the eligibility requirements, you can now file a claim at any time you have an issue with your phone. As was mentioned, that could be the first week after purchasing your device or two years after your manufacturer warranty expires.

Even so, Asurion does have a limit of replacement claims that you can file per year, or rather in any consecutive 12-month period. That limit can be two or three depending on the phone insurance plan you’re getting from your carrier.

Regardless, here are the quick steps on how to get a free phone from Asurion in case you lose or damage your current one. In this case, we’ve used the official Asurion website route, but you could also work with your carrier’s phone claim page.

Directions:

1. Visit the Asurion file a claim page.
2. Click on the “Claims” button in the upper right corner
3. Choose the provider of your cell phone service
4. Tap on the “Get Started” button
5. Key in your cellular or mobile number of the phone you want to replace
6. Click the “Verify” tab to confirm the information you’ve entered
7. Tap the “Get Started” button again
8. Finally, use the on-screen instructions to complete filing your claim

After you’ve submitted the device claim, Asurion will send you a confirmation email that has the shipping and tracking information. The tracking details will help you check the status of your claim. It’s very possible to get your replacement phone on the same (business) day, but in most cases, they process the request the next day.

How To Get A Brand New Phone From Asurion

After you’ve filed for a device claim, the replacement phone you receive can be brand new or a certified refurbished model. Now, this is where a lot of people lose it, especially if they happened to pay a hefty deductible. So, you might want to more attention before you even enroll in the protection program.

** Asurion will fulfill the device claim you filed with either a brand new or a certified refurbished phone. The two options are based on how long it has been since you purchased the gadget you’re trying to replace.

If it has been more than a year, you certainly will receive a refurbished phone, but similar or closer to what you had. The same applies if you enrolled into the program through a BYOD option or your device was less than one year but more than 31 days since purchase. Get it?

In other words, you’ll still get a certified reconditioned replacement phone if the lost/ damaged device was more than 31 days since purchase. If the phone was 30 days or less since purchase, the replacement device you’ll get will be a brand-new model.

Therefore, the only way you can get a brand new phone from Asurion will be to enroll in the protection plan by purchasing or upgrading to a brand-new device. Then file a device claim with Asurion within the first 30+1 days since purchase**

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Asurion give you a new phone?

As we’ve just said, you can receive either a refurbished or brand-new replacement phone when you file a device claim with Asurion. To get the brand-new replacement device, you must have filed your claim in 30 days or less since purchasing and activating your lost/ stolen/damaged phone.

How do I set up a replacement phone?

In general, there’s no standard way to set up your replacement phone. The process usually depends on the carrier you’re using as each have their unique way to ensure a complete activation. For instance, you can refer to the steps on how to activate an unlocked phone with Verizon.

What happens if I don’t return my damaged phone to Asurion?

When you file your device claim with Asurion under lost or stolen, the requirement to return the device doesn’t apply. If you filed under manufacturer defect or damage, you should return the original device using the prepaid shipping label that came with the replacement model. If you don’t return the damaged phone to Asurion, you could end up paying $850 based on the cost of the claim.

How do I speak to someone at Asurion?

If you have any questions regarding your device claim, you can speak to someone at Asurion through their dedicated helplines. The helpline you use depends on the carrier or dealer you used to enroll for the insurance program. Examples include 1-888-881-2622 for Verizon, 1-888-562-8662 for AT&T, 1-866-551-5924 for Amazon, 1-866-598-4874 with TracFone Wireless, and 1-855-309-8342 with Cricket Wireless.

Does Asurion have a deductible?

When you enroll in the device protection program, you can file for a device claim at any time. However, Asurion has a deductible of varying amounts for any replacement claim you file. You’ll also need to pay a deductible for repairs on cracked screens, but the battery and performance diagnostics are free.

Final Thoughts

In truth, it’s not a must you pay that extra $3 or $15 to your carrier for device protection. A lot of people still don’t. Similar to your car, however, the phone insurance coverage can save you big-time when you have an unexpected device problem but don’t have enough emergency funds.

Of course, you can still use your manufacturer warranty for the repairs or replacement device if it’s still valid. But then, a warranty usually covers problems involving mechanical failures and software defects. Worst of all, many cell phones usually come with a short warranty period: One year in most cases.

So, in our opinion, enrolling in the Asurion device protection plans is worth it if the cost to replace a phone at full retail price is a stress for you. However, you have to make sure you file the claim as soon as possible, in some cases within 60 days of the incident. Otherwise, Asurion may not approve it.