Startup offers Uber, Lyft passengers insurance

Worried about an accident when you ride with Uber or Lyft? Now you can get an insurance policy for the ride from your phone, too.

Startup Sure Inc. announced Thursday that it has partnered with underwriter Chubb to launch a service called Ridesafe that allows passengers to buy accidental medical, death and dismemberment coverage for the ride.

Ride-hailing companies typically provide liability insurance coverage for U.S. drivers that would cover passengers in an accident.

Uber and Lyft, for example, both provide $1 million of liability insurance, which would cover bodily injury and property damage for the driver, passenger and anyone else involved in a potential accident.

But Sure CEO Wayne Slavin said the ride-hailing company policies have strict guidelines as to when they take effect and in what situation they are applied. That might leave passengers footing the bill for some expenses. He says Ridesafe is a way to cover some of the gaps, such as medical copayments or for times a company policy is not in effect.

It’s unclear how often those situations arise, but those who want the added peace of mind can make the purchase through an app.

Ridesafe works by connecting a customer’s Uber or Lyft account to the Sure Insurance app. Once coverage is initially authorized, the passenger’s ride is automatically insured. The cost is $2.40 for 24 hours of coverage on any number of rides. Ridesafe is available in 38 states.

The company said future versions of the service will include coverage for passengers riding in autonomous vehicles used for ride-sharing and electric scooters.