Columbus Direct has been in the travel insurance business since 2006, and they pride themselves on providing great value to their customers (which seems to be true).
Columbus Direct mainly focuses on providing short-term and annual travel insurance coverage at some of the most competitive prices in the market, so you can rest assured that whatever you’re buying will be more than worth it.
With that said, how do Columbus Direct’s travel insurance products stack up? Let’s take a look at the good and bad of Columbus Direct travel insurance reviews.
Best Features
Columbus Direct offers customized travel insurance plans that are designed to meet your needs. Whether you’re a student, a globetrotter, or a retiree, Columbus has the right plan for you. Their plans offer flexible coverage and reasonable rates. With one simple phone call, Columbus can create a custom plan just for you.
Additionally, they provide 24-hour customer service and the ability to cancel anytime without penalty. If there’s an emergency, you’ll have access to their Emergency Assistance Services. If there’s ever a need to make changes to your policy while on vacation, they’ve got 24/7 assistance available through the helpline.
Plus, if something unfortunate happens while traveling with Columbus Direct’s coverage in place, they’ll even cover costs like lost baggage delays! However, it does cost a little more than other travel companies and does not include any medical benefits.
It also only covers up to $1 million per trip, so if your expenses exceed this amount (such as with medical expenses), you’ll have to buy supplemental insurance separately. There is no coverage for pregnancy, childbirth, pre-existing conditions, or disabilities.
They also charge you for cancellations made within 72 hours of purchase; however, those who want to upgrade or change their current plan won’t be charged at all. Lastly, the policies only provide full coverage after four days from the initial purchase date; until then you may be responsible for a certain percentage of cancellation fees (varies by company).
Things to be aware of
The first thing to know is that Columbus Direct’s prices are based off of a coverage period. This ranges from 3 days to 12 months depending on the type of plan you have chosen. If you’re not sure what type of plan you need, they have a helpful calculator that will ask you a few questions and then come up with the best insurance option for your needs.
It is important to note that they do not offer travel medical insurance plans. What this means is that if someone suffers an injury or illness while traveling internationally they won’t be covered. They also don’t cover pre-existing conditions which can be a big issue for some people who may want to save money by buying their travel health insurance.
One other thing worth noting is that it doesn’t cover baggage liability. So if you end up losing luggage at the airport, the company will not pay out in cash for replacement items.
You’ll instead receive a voucher from them to use online when shopping for new clothes, electronics, etc. There are still pros though! Columbus Direct offers auto rental collision damage waivers as well as trip interruption protection policies should something happen during your trip.
How much does it cost?
The price of Columbus Direct’s travel insurance varies by the duration of your trip, whether you want coverage for medical expenses or just trip cancellation/interruption, and a few other factors.
The cost is $14.95 per person per day for those traveling in a group of up to two people, $29.95 per person per day if you’re traveling alone on vacation or with your family, and $39.95 per person if you’re traveling as part of a business delegation.
For all travelers, Columbus Direct offers coverage against baggage loss or delay, death or dismemberment due to an accident that occurs during the covered trip period (up to age 69), accidental bodily injury due to an accident that occurs during the covered period (up to age 69), and emergency assistance benefits for evacuations and repatriations. It also provides $500,000 of coverage for emergency medical expenses incurred abroad.
As such, we recommend this company if you want affordable coverage that includes more than just trip cancellation/interruption.
Which coverages are right for you?
Columbus Direct offers travelers from the U.S. and Canada a variety of insurance products to suit their needs when traveling abroad, including emergency medical coverage, trip cancellation or interruption, lost or stolen baggage, and more. For travelers over age 55 who want comprehensive travel protection, we recommend our Global Protector Plan.
People with pre-existing conditions can get added peace of mind with our Healthy Travel Plan which covers health expenses not related to accidents or injury while on vacation. What’s more, if your itinerary includes an extension of your stay in a country other than where you’re from, you may be eligible for international healthcare coverage.
Whether you’re going to Thailand for the winter holidays or Antarctica for adventure purposes, we’ve got you covered. * We’ll even cover injuries sustained by skiing, snowboarding, horseback riding, and hiking!
So what are you waiting for? Click below now and get your Columbus Direct travel insurance today!
General Points
When it comes to Columbus Direct, you’ll need to decide what type of coverage is best for your needs. For example, if you plan on traveling outside of the country, you’ll need to be sure that you have international medical insurance.
On the other hand, if you’re only planning on staying in the United States and are over the age of 60 or have a pre-existing condition, a travel medical insurance plan might be more appropriate.
The policy starts at about $50 for an individual (age 18+) and up to $130 for an entire family. Finally, there’s no limit on how long you can travel with this particular plan.
When you should buy cover
For the best coverage, you should buy travel insurance as soon as you book your flight. This way, if you miss a flight, have to cancel your trip for any reason, or encounter anything out of the ordinary during your travels, you will be covered.
This is when Columbus Direct’s Pre-existing Medical Condition Cover and Cancellation Cover come in handy. If you’re suffering from a serious illness and are unable to fly, or if your airline goes bankrupt after booking your ticket, Columbus Direct has got you covered.
If you’re traveling with young children and one gets sick (or heaven forbid has an accident), this can also become costly. Fortunately, several good options provide emergency medical care, should the need arise Emergency Evacuation Plus (covers emergency medical treatment) and Holiday Accident Care (covers accidental death).
These two policies both offer cover up to a limit of £250,000. To give you some peace of mind while on holiday with kids, or at any point in your travels where emergencies may occur, it’s always worth taking out additional cover just in case something goes wrong.
Where you get cover
When it comes to travel insurance, Columbus Direct is one of the most popular options out there. Columbus Direct has a reputation for being reliable and easy to use. However, this doesn’t mean that they’re perfect.
There are a few things you should know before buying their insurance plan.
First, you need to decide if you want to cover just your trip or if you want to cover anything related to your trip.
Second, many people have complained about how difficult it is to get reimbursed when filing a claim with them.
Third, Columbus Direct only offers insurance plans from specific companies in the UK and Ireland so if that’s where your travel will be taking place then they could work well for you but if not then there might be other providers better suited to your needs.
Fourth, Columbus Direct only offers short-term policies which means that you would need to keep renewing your policy every time you go on a trip.
When you should NOT buy cover
It’s important to think about your situation when deciding whether or not to buy travel insurance. For example, do you have a pre-existing medical condition? If so, it’s advisable to get cover before traveling.
For those with the money and time, it might be worth considering taking out a separate policy in addition to Columbus Direct cover. This can provide more comprehensive protection and peace of mind if something goes wrong during your travels.
However, there is also an increased chance that these additional costs will wipe out any savings from using Columbus Direct. Another thing to bear in mind is that if you’re planning on going overseas for longer than six months, you should consider getting fully comprehensive travel insurance rather than just emergency treatment cover which will only give you access to state-provided healthcare services.
If you are under 26, then some policies may ask for details such as your occupation, date of birth, and parents’ occupations. You may want to research this further as certain restrictions could affect how much you pay for coverage.
How much does it cost?
The cost of Columbus Direct’s travel insurance depends on the length of your trip, age, and other factors. For a one-week excursion, you will pay $39 for coverage up to $5,000 for medical expenses, and $10,000 for property damage.
To cover a two-week trip with higher medical costs or property damage coverage, you’ll pay anywhere from $78 to $118. What do they offer?: Along with typical necessities like emergency health care and baggage loss, Columbus Direct also offers help replacing lost cash and credit cards (up to $1,000) as well as 24/7 customer service via phone or email.
If you want more detailed information about what is covered, download their free brochure before purchasing. Certain exclusions are not covered by Columbus Direct so be sure to read through their brochure carefully before signing up for coverage.
What’s covered?
The Columbus Direct plan offers a range of benefits that are standard among travel insurance providers. These include coverage for delayed or canceled flights, lost luggage, and medical expenses due to injury or illness.
There is also a good level of coverage for prescription drugs and eyeglasses. However, the Columbus Direct plan doesn’t offer coverage for pre-existing conditions such as pregnancy, allergies, or mental health conditions like depression.
So if you have any existing conditions then this may not be the right provider for you. In terms of emergency evacuations and repatriation, there is no cover under the plan unless it is an emergency related to an existing medical condition where there has been a sudden deterioration in your health.
Wrapping Up
Columbus Direct is a travel insurance provider that has been in business for over 20 years and has a strong reputation for customer service. However, as with any product, there are some pros and cons to keep in mind.
First, the good: Columbus Direct offers affordable plans with coverage for medical expenses, lost or stolen luggage, trips canceled due to severe weather, and many other benefits. In addition, they offer 24/7 assistance if you need help while traveling abroad.
On the downside, they only provide benefits up to $100,000 per incident. If you want more coverage than that you’ll have to pay extra for it (although this may be worth it depending on your needs).
