Apple Launches $49.99 AppleCare One Family Plan for 6 People in the U.S.

Q: How will Apple handle prorated refunds for existing individual AppleCare policies when a household upgrades to the shared family plan?

Apple says existing individual AppleCare+ plans will be canceled automatically when a covered device is upgraded into AppleCare One Family, and the customer will receive a prorated refund for the unused portion of that old coverage. The refund is calculated based on the percentage of unexpired AppleCare coverage remaining at the time of the switch. In practice, that means households should not be billed twice for the same device once it moves onto the shared family plan. If the original AppleCare policy was paid month to month or annually through recurring billing, cancellation can generally be handled through Apple and coverage ends immediately once the upgrade takes effect. If the original policy was paid upfront in full, Apple says the prorated refund may be issued as an Apple Gift Card rather than a cash payment. There are some exceptions. If a device is covered through the iPhone Upgrade Program, Apple says the customer must contact Apple Support to cancel the old AppleCare+ plan before that device can become eligible for AppleCare One. If coverage came through a carrier, reseller, or an AppleCare Services vendor, the household may need to work with that provider directly on cancellation and any refund. So for most direct AppleCare+ customers, the process is automatic and prorated, with the refund tied to the unused time left on the previous plan.

3 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Sep 9

$49.99 a month buys U.S. households AppleCare One Family, covering eligible devices across a Family Sharing group of up to six people from Sept. 14.
The plan bundles AppleCare+ benefits — accidental-damage coverage, battery service and priority support — and adds theft-and-loss protection for eligible iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch models.
Subscribers can cover most devices under 4 years old that are in good working condition, with newly purchased devices added automatically and up to 6 total claims allowed each year.
Apple said the price stays fixed regardless of how many eligible products are enrolled, aiming to replace separate per-person plans for larger families.
The launch expands on AppleCare One, introduced in the U.S. in July 2025 at $19.99 monthly for up to 3 products and later rolled out to Australia, France, Germany and the UK.