Mobile insurance: 9 offers to protect your handset

Mobile phones are one of the very few items that offer both utility and vanity simultaneously. The benefits of technology have turned it into our professional platform, banking platform, trading platform, social media gateway and an object of personal communication, all rolled into one. Handsets are becoming so feature rich, important and valuable that many are getting them insured. But most of us ignore the advice of salesperson at a retail store to insure the handset.

Money9 gives you a lowdown of the top plans available:

1. Onsite Go mobile insurance

Onsite Go covers protection for electronic devices and home appliances like mobiles, laptops, digital camera, television, AC machines, refrigerator, microwave and washing machines.

For protection, the phone should have been purchased in India. The protection plans can be purchased online at the company website or from Amazon. Extended warranty can also be purchased from Croma outlets. Mainly mobile theft, damage by liquids, screen protection, extended warranty etc are covered by this company.

2. OneAssist mobile insurance

 You can insure your new smart phones against breakage, damage and also get an extended warranty with OneAssist. All the damaged devices are picked up from the doorstep and are eligible for 100% cashless repairs.

In certain cases, the company offers insurance for up to six-month-old smart phones. The protection plan can be activated via OneAssist App or online at the web portal. The protection plans start at Rs 67 per month.

3. Acko mobile insurance

 The cashless Acko mobile protection plan is only for handset purchased on Amazon. You can purchase Acko protection plan along with the mobile on Amazon.

Liquid and physical damage is covered with this insurance. Acko protection plan does not cover theft or loss, wear and tear, damages reported after seven days, damages to accessories including SIM and memory card and unauthorised repair.

Since Acko mobile insurance plans come bundled with new mobile purchased on Amazon, there are no additional payments to be done.

4. Airtel secure mobile insurance

Airtel secure protection plan is only for postpaid subscribers on all Android and iOS smart phones. The plan is available for all the handsets of age less than one year from the invoice date.

The plan has handset damage protection and antivirus protection starting for as low as Rs 49 per month and is charged monthly along with the postpaid bills. The insurance covers liquid damage, screen damage and theft as well.

5. Flipkart mobile protection plan

Flipkart has tied up with Bajaj Allianz has an insurance plan for mobiles and smart phones purchased through Flipkart. Accidental screen damages, liquid damages to screen and hardware and software glitches are covered under this plan.

The Flipkart CMP plan’s starting cost is Rs 99 for 1-year protection with door-to-door service. The plan can be added to the cart while shopping for mobile. The plan cannot be purchased separately.

6. Warranty Bazaar mobile insurance

Warranty Bazaar offers only two plans – accidental damage protection plan and Set featured imagewarranty shield plan. Warranty shield plans are for a period of one, two and three years. The accidental and liquid damage services for display and screen is for one year.

The protection plans can be purchased from the company portal, affiliates or at retail partners.

7. Syska mobile insurance

Syska Gadget Secure provides services of insurance, repairs, antivirus protection, device tracking and blocking. The gadget insurance policy covers fire and allied perils cover, accidental physical damage cover, theft and burglary cover and fluid and water damage coverage.

The insurance will commence after 24 hours of the purchase and will last for 12 months. For Android OS devices plans start from Rs 1,199 and is up to Rs 2,199 and for iPhones, the plan is only for Rs 4,999 according to the company website.

8. Times Global mobile insurance

Times Global is a complete online global platform for mobile, laptop and appliance insurance with coverage in India along with other countries. Times Global is the only insurer with long term plans of 1, 2 and 3-year plan depending on the price of the handset.

Accidental damage, damage by liquid, theft within India, screen crack, malfunctioning, camera or display problems are covered by this plan. Plans start from Rs 2,400 and go up to Rs 13,000 depending upon the price of the phone and duration.

9. SyncNscan mobile insurance

SyncNscan provides cloud-based backup, anti-theft security software and mobile insurance services in association with IFFCO-Tokio general insurance. Accidental damages, liquid damages and theft by violent means are covered.

The insurance can be purchased online at the company website or from various e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Snapdeal, Flipkart, eBay etc. Protection plans start from Rs 249 per month. To know the details, you need to provide details like mobile number, product type, mobile platform and price.