New Global Research: Consumers Are Underprotected at the Moments That Matter Most
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cover Genius, the global infrastructure for embedded protection, today released The 2026 Cover Genius Embedded Protection Market Research Report finding that demand for embedded protection is outpacing how often it is actually offered.
The global study of nearly 1,400 consumers shows that demand for embedded protection is high: 87% weigh what could go wrong when they book travel or make a major purchase, and 75% say they would buy more protection if payouts were automatic, the single strongest driver in the study. However, only 30% of online shoppers surveyed were offered protection at checkout, even though 79% say they were satisfied the last time they bought it. This gap signifies a high, currently unmet, demand for protection. Credit card coverage is often the fallback when protection isn't offered directly, yet 43% of consumers don't fully understand what's already bundled into their cards, and another 28% know they have coverage, but have never used a benefit.
“Consumer appetite for protection continues to increase, but it often isn’t showing up at the moment it’s most needed,” said Angus McDonald, CEO and Co-Founder of Cover Genius. “Every checkout without protection and every booking without coverage is a missed moment for both sides. The customer is exposed, and the business leaves revenue on the table. When protection is automatic and built into the transaction itself, that gap closes for everyone.”
Key findings by sector:
“Automation is the single largest lever for growth in embedded protection,” said McDonald. “Our platform delivers personalized, contextual protection, with claims resolved quickly and approved funds available instantly. When you remove the burden of filing a claim from the customer, protection transforms from a reluctant add-on into a standout benefit.”
Methodology
The 2026 Cover Genius Embedded Protection Market Research Report is based on a structured survey of 1,392 consumers conducted in March and April 2026 across seven countries and four generations. Participants completed 23 core questions covering risk awareness, protection preferences, purchase behavior, and attitudes toward emerging embedded protection delivery models. To qualify, respondents had to have engaged in at least one qualifying financial or travel activity in the prior 12 months and previously been offered a protection or insurance product. The research was conducted in partnership with Gather, an independent third party research and content provider.
About Cover Genius
Cover Genius is the global infrastructure for embedded protection. Active in over 60 countries and all 50 US States, it protects the customers of the world’s largest digital companies, including Klarna, Revolut, Stripe, Priceline, Agoda, Booking.com, Turkish Airlines, Tongcheng Travel, eBay, and Uber, with seamless, end-to-end experiences. Cover Genius has protected more than 70M customers globally across 240M policies with USD $3.2BN in gross written sales. For more information, visit covergenius.com.
Media contact: global-comms-team@covergenius.com