We love to hear from over 65s who want to insure their holiday with us - it’s great to see older people planning the trip of a lifetime. You may have some questions about how your age affects your policy; we’ve answered some of the most common ones below.
If you have any other questions, please give our friendly customer services team a call on 0800 0680 060. They’ll be happy to help.
What’s the age limit for Columbus Direct policies?
We can provide cover as long as you are aged 85 or under at the time of applying. If you’re over 85, please contact Insure For All, who will be happy to help you. Holiday insurance for those over 65 is easy and quick to sort out - just trust Columbus Direct.
Can I still get an annual policy?
We offer annual multi-trip cover for people aged 74 or under at the time they buy their policy.
Can my husband and I be added to my daughter’s family policy? She’s in her 30s and has a young family.
Your grandchildren could be added to your policy as long as they are under 18, but your daughter would have to have her own policy and could insure her children on that.
What’s a pre-existing medical condition?
This is any medical condition that has required medicines, treatment, review/check-ups, surgery, tests or investigations (other than for common colds), in the past year. You will need to tell us about all of your pre-existing conditions to ensure that your policy will fully protect you.
My partner has pre-existing conditions – will you still be able to insure us?
We’re pleased to confirm that we cover a wide range of medical conditions. When you’re applying for cover, we will ask if you have any pre-existing conditions. If you have, we’ll take you through a simple range of questions. An additional premium may be required for us to provide cover, but you do have the option of excluding cover for those conditions.
I’ve added in details of my medical condition, and it’s been declined – what next?
If cover for your medical condition is not available, rather than offer a policy which won’t protect you, we’re happy to suggest an alternative provider, goodtogoinsureance.com. It’s important that you travel with full cover for your existing medical condition(s).
Will we be given the same quality of treatment as younger travellers if we need it?
Our 24 hour medical assistance teams will be on hand to ensure that you are looked after in the event of a medical emergency. They will support you and arrange treatment, and they’ll also let your family know what’s going on. They can also liaise with the doctor looking after you to make sure that you get the treatment you need and, if necessary, arrange for you to be brought home.
What can I do if I run out of my prescription when I’m abroad?
If you will need to take medication with you, It's always advisable to carry extra as travel insurance will generally not cover the replacement of lost or damaged prescribed medication. The cost of obtaining replacement medication would not be covered either, so we advise that you visit a pharmacy before consulting a doctor. The pharmacy staff should be able to explain the most cost-efficient way of getting the medication replaced.
We’d like to take a cruise – will you cover us?
We’re happy to insure travellers taking cruises. Just select one of the cruise options on the first page when booking online. Answer 'Yes' when asked 'Are you going to more than one country?'. Finally, just choose either 'European Cruise' or 'World Cruise'. If you’re on a UK only cruise, you’ll need to buy your policy from our call centre staff. You can contact them on 0800 068 0060.
Will you help us get home if one of us needs a stay in hospital, and we miss our flight?
Yes, we can. If one of you has been admitted to hospital, then you should already be in contact with our 24 hour assistance team. They will also be able to make getting home easier, by booking you on to an appropriate return flight. If you need to extend your trip as a result, your insurance will also cover the cost of any additional accommodation.
What about if we need transport to and from the airport on the way home, and we need a nurse or a doctor on the fight with us?
If you need a medical escort for the journey home, we will arrange this for you, as well as arranging your partner’s travel.
I’m unsure about my policy wording - can you help me?
We’re happy to go through any questions you might have about your policy. Just call us on 0800 068 0060 and speak to a our customer service team.