Many fans look forward to , especially when it involves traveling or being able to take part in events like fan meets, concerts, etc. But unforeseen circumstances can cause delays or even ruin those plans completely. And cancellation fees on top of all other expenses are an extra financial burden that can really hurt fans’ budgets.
This year, Japanese credit card company JCB partnered with insurance provider Mysurance to make their Oshikatsu Cancel Insurance plan more accessible to customers. Although Oshikatsu Cancel Insurance has been around for over a year, this partnership makes applying and paying for it even easier via JCB’s app.
Since 2021, Mysurance has provided Travel Cancel Insurance, a short-term insurance plan which allows for customers to receive refunds and compensation in case they have to cancel their trips due to health reasons and unforeseen circumstances. Last year they partnered with oshikatsu-focused startup Oshicoco to create a new cancellation insurance plan specifically covering fan-related activities.
Oshikatsu can involve a lot of planning ahead of time. And there are even times when fans travel domestically and internationally for events. Of course there are event fees, plane tickets, and hotel bookings. But sometimes personal reasons, unexpected weather, or sudden event rescheduling can lead to a lot of cancellation fees. The Oshikatsu Cancellation Insurance allows policy holders to receive money to cover cancellation costs for a premium as low as 900 yen (about $5.50) depending on their full travel expenses and destination.
However, the insurance plan doesn’t cover ticket fees unless they’re part of a travel package. In this case, though, other companies are starting to provide similar services. Take Horipro for example, one of Japan’s biggest talent management agencies that also produces all kinds of events involving their talent. They recently launched a ticket insurance service for fans to receive a full refund of their tickets in case of injury, illness, or weather-related delays and cancellations.
At this time, though, these insurance plans are only available to people living in Japan with access to these apps and services. But as the oshikatsu industry continues to grow, other companies may start to consider providing similar solutions.
Have you ever had to pay an exorbitant amount to cover cancellation fees related to oshikatsu? Let us know if this type of insurance service is something you’d like to see in your country!