Coronavirus FAQs - UK customers only
BEFORE YOU START YOUR TRIP
| Would the Columbus Direct policy provide cover if... | Policies purchased between 04.11.2020 to 31.08.2021 | Policies purchased between 23.7.2020 to 03.11.2020 | Policies purchased between 14.3.2020 to 22.7.2020 | Policies purchased before 14.3.2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You, a relative or travelling companion fall ill with COVID-19 and are unable to travel? | Yes - provided the positive test is within 14 days of your trip starting. | No | No | Yes |
| A person you are intending to travel to, or stay with, fall ill with COVID-19? | Yes - provided the positive test is within 14 days of your trip starting. | No | No | Yes |
| You're travelling to stay with a relative or friend who has needed to self-isolate? | No | No | No | No |
| You or a member of your household or bubble are advised to self-isolate at home and are unable to travel? | No | No | No | No |
| You're unable to travel due to government restrictions preventing you from travelling from the UK or to another country, related to an outbreak of COVID-19? | No | No | No | Yes, as long as they are new restrictions were applied after the policy was purchased. |
| You're unable to travel due to government restrictions requiring you to quarantine on arrival to your destination country or on your return to the UK? | No | No | No | No |
| The area where you live or where you are departing on your trip from is locked down? | No | No | No | No |
| You are contacted under track and trace initiative and advised to self-isolate? | No | No | No | No |
| Your airline cancels your flight due to COVID-19 but there are no government restrictions preventing you from travelling? | No | No | No | No |
| You have been made redundant and cannot afford to travel? | Yes, unless the cause of the redundancy is directly related to COVID-19 | Yes, unless the cause of the redundancy is directly related to COVID-19 | Yes, unless the cause of the redundancy is directly related to COVID-19 | Yes |
| If you decide to cancel or cut short a trip due to fear of being diagnosed with COVID-19, or any other virus/disease? | No | No | No | No |
| If you decide not to travel as you have been furloughed from your job? | No | No | No | No |
| If you decide not to travel as the specific event that you are travelling for has been cancelled? | No | No | No | No |
| Your trip has been cancelled due to unforeseen COVID-19 related travel restrictions, but you don't need to make a claim, can you get a refund on your single trip policy purchased to cover that trip? | Yes, provided you contact us prior to booked travel date. | Yes, provided you contact us prior to booked travel date. | Yes, provided you contact us prior to booked travel date. | Yes, provided you contact us prior to booked travel date. |
| Your trip has been rescheduled, can you move your single trip insurance policy? | Yes, provided the trip is taking place within 12 months of the original purchase date of the insurance and that you pay any additional costs due to a change in destination and/or duration. | Yes, provided the trip is taking place within 12 months of the original purchase date of the insurance and that you pay any additional costs due to a change in destination and/or duration. | Yes, provided the trip is taking place within 12 months of the original purchase date of the insurance and that you pay any additional costs due to a change in destination and/or duration. | Yes, provided the trip is taking place within 12 months of the original purchase date of the insurance and that you pay any additional costs due to a change in destination and/or duration. |
| Am I covered to travel to a country or region that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are advising against all travel? | No cover will be provided. | No cover will be provided. | No cover will be provided. | No cover will be provided. |
| Am I covered to travel to a country or region that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are advising against all but essential travel? | No cover will be provided if the claim relates to the reason for the advisory, unless we have agreed that the trip is essential prior to departure. | No cover will be provided if the claim relates to the reason for the advisory, unless we have agreed that the trip is essential prior to departure. | No cover will be provided if the claim relates to the reason for the advisory, unless we have agreed that the trip is essential prior to departure. | No cover will be provided if the claim relates to the reason for the advisory, unless we have agreed that the trip is essential prior to departure. |
| Am I covered to travel to countries that are not listed Green under the UK traffic light system? | Yes, providing the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are not advising against all travel. If they are advising against all but essential travel, no cover will be provided if the claim relates to the reason for the advisory, unless we have agreed that the trip is essential prior to departure. | Yes, unless the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are advising against all travel. If they are advising against all but essential travel, no cover will be provided if the claim relates to the reason for the advisory, unless we have agreed that the trip is essential prior to departure. | Yes as long as your trip commenced after 22.7.2020 and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are not advising against all travel. If they are advising against all but essential travel, no cover will be provided if the claim relates to the reason for the advisory, unless we have agreed that the trip is essential prior to departure. | Yes, unless the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are advising against all travel. If they are advising against all but essential travel, no cover will be provided if the claim relates to the reason for the advisory, unless we have agreed that the trip is essential prior to departure. |
| Am I covered if I am unable to travel due to the entry requirements set by the local government restricting UK citizens entering the country due to COVID-19? | No | No | No | No |
AFTER YOUR TRIP HAS STARTED
| Would the Columbus Direct policy provide cover if... | Policies purchased from 4.11.2020 | Policies purchased between 23.7.2020 to 03.11.2020 | Policies purchased between 14.3.2020 to 22.7.2020 | Policies purchased before 14.3.2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YOU FALL ILL WITH COVID-19 ABROAD AND NEED MEDICAL TREATMENT AND/OR REPATRIATION TO THE UNITED KINGDOM? | Yes, unless the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are advising against all travel. If they are advising against all but essential travel, no cover will be provided if the claim relates to the reason for the advisory, unless we have agreed that the trip is essential prior to departure. | Yes, unless the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are advising against all travel. If they are advising against all but essential travel, no cover will be provided if the claim relates to the reason for the advisory, unless we have agreed that the trip is essential prior to departure. | Yes as long as your trip commenced after 22.7.2020 and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are not advising against all travel. If they are advising against all but essential travel, no cover will be provided if the claim relates to the reason for the advisory, unless we have agreed that the trip is essential prior to departure. | Yes, unless the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are advising against all travel. If they are advising against all but essential travel, no cover will be provided if the claim relates to the reason for the advisory, unless we have agreed that the trip is essential prior to departure. |
| You fall ill with COVID-19 abroad and need to extend your stay as a result of the medical treatment and incur additional accommodation and/or transport costs? | Yes, unless the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are advising against all travel. If they are advising against all but essential travel, no cover will be provided if the claim relates to the reason for the advisory, unless we have agreed that the trip is essential prior to departure. | Yes, unless the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are advising against all travel. If they are advising against all but essential travel, no cover will be provided if the claim relates to the reason for the advisory, unless we have agreed that the trip is essential prior to departure. | Yes as long as your trip commenced after 22.7.2020 and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are not advising against all travel. If they are advising against all but essential travel, no cover will be provided if the claim relates to the reason for the advisory, unless we have agreed that the trip is essential prior to departure. | Yes, unless the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are advising against all travel. If they are advising against all but essential travel, no cover will be provided if the claim relates to the reason for the advisory, unless we have agreed that the trip is essential prior to departure. |
| You test positive for COVID-19 at your departure point and are not allowed to go on your trip. | Yes | No | No | No |
| You are not allowed to board your transportation because you have showed signs of having COVID-19 and you miss your flight. | Yes | No | No | No |
| You test positive for COVID-19 when you arrive at your destination and are not allowed to continue your trip. | Yes | No | No | No |
| You need to cut short your journey due to a close relative falling ill with COVID-19? | Yes, as long as the relative had not been diagnosed with the condition at the time of travelling. | No | No | Yes, as long as the relative had not been diagnosed with the condition at the time of travelling. |
| You are held in compulsory quarantine in your holiday accommodation on the instruction of local government of a public health official. | No | No | No | No |
| You need to cut short your holiday due to government advice asking you to leave the country, or the UK government advising you to return home? | No | No | No | Yes, some costs will be covered under the Catastrophe section |
| Am I covered if I decide to come home early due to a change in the UK traffic light status? | No | No | No | No |
| AM I COVERED FOR THE ADDITIONAL COST OF TESTS IF THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE UK TRAFFIC LIGHT STATUS? | No | No | No | No |
| AM I COVERED IF I HAVE TO QUARANTINE OUTSIDE MY HOME ON MY RETURN TO THE UK? | No | No | No | No |
OTHER QUESTIONS
| Would the Columbus Direct policy provide cover if... | Policies purchased from 4.11.2020 | Policies purchased between 23.7.2020 to 03.11.2020 | Policies purchased between 14.3.2020 to 22.7.2020 | Policies purchased before 14.3.2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You have a trip booked that was arranged prior to your policy renewing, is your cover affected? | Yes, your policy will not cover you if you have to cancel due to government restrictions preventing you from travelling to your booked destination. | As long as the trip commences after 23rd July, you will have cover for Medical Expenses and Repatriation but no other cover will be provided. | As long as the trip commences after 23rd July, you will have cover for Medical Expenses and Repatriation but no other cover will be provided. | No, your cover remains unaffected as long as the trip is due to take place within your current period of insurance. |
| You are no longer planning on using your annual policy, can you get a refund? | Yes, if you ask for the policy to be cancelled within the cooling off period. | Yes, if you ask for the policy to be cancelled within the cooling off period. | If outside of the cooling off period, you may be entitled to a partial refund - please contact us for further details. | Yes, if the policy was issued in 2020, you may be entitled to a partial refund - please contact us for further details. |
| Your policy schedule states that you have no cover at all for COVID-19, are you covered for Medical Expenses and Repatriation? | Not applicable | Not applicable | Yes, where your policy is still live as at the 23rd July 2020 and for trips commencing after that date. | Not applicable |