Does travel insurance cover a lost cell phone?

Okay, so you wanna know if travel insurance covers a lost cell phone, huh? Let me tell you, that’s a fantastic question, and honestly, something I worry about constantly when I’m on the road.

Ugh, just the thought of losing my phone while traveling sends shivers down my spine! Seriously, can you even imagine? It’s like losing a limb these days. Anyway… most travel insurance… well, they’re not going to be super helpful if you accidentally break it. Like, say you’re clumsy like me and, oh, I don’t know, maybe drop it in the toilet? (Don’t judge, it’s happened! Okay, maybe more than once… ahem). Accidental damage is usually a no-go.

However, and this is a big however, if the airline loses your luggage and your precious phone is in there? Or, even worse, if it gets straight-up stolen? Then, fingers crossed, your policy might kick in and reimburse you. But, and there’s always a but, right?, they’ll probably only cover you up to a certain limit. So don’t be expecting to replace your brand-new, top-of-the-line iPhone 15 Pro Max with no issues!

I remember one time, my friend Sarah had her phone snatched right out of her hand in Rome. It was terrifying! Luckily, she had travel insurance (smart girl!), and they did eventually reimburse her, but it took forever and a ton of paperwork.

The real key, and I cannot stress this enough, is to always, always, always check the fine print before you even leave your house. Seriously. Those policies are notoriously tricky and full of loopholes. You think you’re covered, and then bam! You find out that your specific situation isn’t included. Been there, felt that frustration. So, yeah, read that fine print like your travel happiness depends on it… because it kinda does! Wouldn’t you agree?