Full Details on Citi Prestige Cell Phone Insurance Coverage

Back in October, Citi announced numerous changes to their Prestige card, some positive and some negative. One positive change mentioned then was cell phone protection, slated to begin on May 1, 2019. We got most of the details back in March when the PR team sent out the basics. On April 14th, Citi updated the terms on the Citi Prestige card officially putting the changes into effect.

You can view the full PDF terms here – page 4 through 9 are the relevant pages for cell phone protection.

Most of the regular details and exclusions are the same as those of other cards with cell phone protection. Here are some additional key details, including some people were asking about:

  • You are eligible for coverage the first day of the calendar month following the payment of your cell phone bill.
  • If you skip paying a bill with the Prestige card, coverage is suspended beginning the first day of the calendar month following the month of nonpayment. Coverage resumes on the first day of the calendar month following the date of any future payment of your EligibleCellular Wireless Telephone bill with your Covered Card.
  • Thus, while the new terms of the Prestige card are already intact since April 14th, coverage won’t actually start until May 1, and only if you pay your cellular bill during April with the Prestige card.
  • The terms state coverage is for “reimbursement for the actual cost to replace or repair a stolen or damaged…phone”. In the event of theft or irreparable damage, I’m unsure if they replace it with a new phone or they can replace it with a used one, I’d assume they pay for a new one, e.g. if your iPhone X gets stolen, they’ll pay for the value of a new iPhone X. Note, the cost of the iPhone X likely went down since the time you purchased it, and your probably won’t get reimbursed for the price you paid, rather for the price it’s going for now.
  • As with some other cell phone protections, pre-paid plans are excluded. (“Eligible Cellular Wireless Telephones that are received as part of a pre-paid plan.”) The language makes it sound like the exclusion is only when the phone is received as part of the prepaid plan, but if you buy a phone and sign up for a prepaid plan that would be covered.
  • There’s a limit of 5 phones covered: The Prestige cell phone insurance covers the “cellular telephones associated with the primary line and up to the first four secondary, additional or supplemental lines on the Eligible Person’s monthly billing statement.” It seems likely that if you have two separate cell phone plans, (e.g. yours’ and your spouse’s) and pay both bills with the Prestige card, they’d both be covered.
  • Cosmetic damage or minor damage that does not impede the ability to make or receive calls is not covered. For example, screen cracks under 2 inches will not be covered.
  • For the stolen claim, you need to file a police report within 48 hours.

The other main details we’ve already covered in the original post as well as on the handy chart in this post. 

Hat tip to reader D.
    Chuck
  • On April 15, 2019, 12:26

View Comments (21)

  • DP:
    Citi Prestige, Repair estimate=$169(before tax), Reimbursed=$169

    CSR promised that the claim would be reviewed by Claim Examiner within 7-10 business days of uploading all documents. However, the claim remained pending for far longer than that. I called CSR several times to mark it as a priority and then a rush priority.

  • Good discussion. My free Wells Fargo Card provides cell phone coverage up to $600. Just paid $1100 plus tax for my wife’s XSMax. Mine is an X. Applecare is expensive for both phones. We also have my daughter’s IPhone 8. Balancing the Applecare cost every two years vs the Citi fee needs to be looked at. Good screen coverage on Applecare.

    My problem is with the hotel points. Booking thru Citi costs me a lot of benefits vs booking direct. Just stayed at the Sheraton Waikiki. Due to my status, the hotel gave us two $36 pp breakfast buffets daily, plus the incredible Lanai Lounge access. That’s available for $125 per day to third party bookers.

    That’s why I cancelled my Chase Sapphire Reserve. Same booking issue.

  • Just used the CIP insurance recently. Relatively painless to have my water killed iphone 6s replaced at the Apple store for $299. Got reimbursed 199 from cardbenefitservices within a week. The $100 deductible hurts though, so this is a nice step up from that, and has a much higher annual limit for more expensive phones.

  • Here's the terms on CIP: "Cosmetic damage to the cellular wireless telephone or damage that does not impact the cellular wireless telephone’s capabilities and functionalities of the phone."

    Seems to be quite similar to Prestige's, and I had no problem getting reimbursed for repairing two screen cracks on iPhones last year.

  • This seems useful for new phones but if your phones is two years or older, the value is typically $300 or less so just keep that in mind.

  • What if I use Prestige to pay the bill of my domestic partner who has her own bill (not in my name)? Is her phone covered or would I have to make her phone a second, additional line on my own cell phone bill?

  • “only damage that affects the ability to make or receive calls is covered”

    That is quite a limitation since a lot of damages won’t affect this. Besides, who gets to make that determination?

  • So just out of curiosity, is this coverage better than that of the CIP?
    Their's is 100 deductible if a bill Is paid through CIP and here, its reimbursement of the value of the phone.
    Is there a deductible with CITI Prestige?
    I dont see anything about a deductible.
    Any help?
    Got a note 8 with cracked screen and am checking out my options.

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