Buying your policy

• Where can I view my Policy Wording online?

  • You can find a link to your policy wording here: https://www.columbusdirect.com/policy-documentation/

• What’s the maximum age you can insure?

  • Annual multi trip cover is available for travellers aged up to 74 inclusive.  Single trip cover is available for travellers aged up to 85 inclusive. 

    If you are over 85 and need to find cover for your trip, we’re happy to let you know that we have partnered with Goodtogoinsurance.com. They have no upper age limit and can offer medical screening to provide cover for pre-existing medical conditions. To buy a policy from them online click here, or call them on 0330 024 4478

• Should I buy a couple policy, or insure both of us as individuals?

  • If you are married, in a civil partnership or are co-habiting with your partner, please select ‘Couple’ cover.  Otherwise select Individual if it’s just you on the policy, or ‘Group’ to insure more than 1 traveller. 

• My children are over 18 – can I still buy a Family policy?

  • If you have children aged 18-22 in full time education, they can be included on either a Single Trip or Annual Trip policy.  They can also travel independently under your policy.

• What is an excess?

  • An excess is the amount deducted from the claim payment, and it applies to each person for each section of cover you claim under.  The excesses are listed on your policy schedule.

    You can choose to waive the excess on your policy for a small extra premium when you buy – making it easier to make smaller claims. Just add our ‘excess waiver’ option at Step 3 – Tailor your policy, when you get a quote online. If you go for Bronze cover, there’s also the option of halving your excess.

• When should I start my annual multi-trip policy?

  • With Annual Multi Trip policies, cover for cancellation starts on the date entered as the start date of the policy. If you have paid for any part of a trip, set the start date to today to ensure your cancellation cover begins right away. This doesn’t affect your cooling off period – you still have 14 days to cancel your policy if you decide you don’t want to keep it for any reason, provided no claims have been made.

• Can my family travel separately on an annual multi-trip policy?

  • Yes, all family members can travel separately – including children. 

• Are the policy benefits per person or per claim?

  • The maximum benefits stated on your policy are the amount you can claim up to per person, per trip.

• Can I buy insurance for my child to travel on their own?

  • Unfortunately, children cannot be insured under their own single trip policy if you’re booking online. In certain circumstances, such as travelling on a school trip or when they’re accompanied by an adult, children can have their own policy if you buy it via our call centre. Please call us on 0800 068 0060 and we’ll be happy to discuss your requirements.

• Can I be covered if I no longer live in the UK?

  • We offer cover to residents of over 30 countries across Europe and the Middle East – not to mention Australia and New Zealand. Simply go to our home page, select ‘change country’ in the top right corner of the page, and then get a quote.

    If you have annual cover as a UK resident and have recently moved overseas, you may need to cancel your current policy - as it will no longer be valid. A pro-rata refund may be applicable. Please contact us on 0800 068 0060 and select option 2 for customer service (open 9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri) to speak to one of our team.

• Will I be covered for working abroad?

  • If you’re planning to work while you’re away, it’s important to check you have cover in place while you’re in the workplace.  Provided the job you’re doing is not manual labour (fruit picking, building work etc.) then our policies will cover you.  The exception to this is the personal liability section of our policies – which don’t apply while you’re working.  So please check with your employer to make sure they have third party liability cover in place for you while you’re at work. 

    Please note that we cannot provide cover for manual labour.

• I’m over 65, can Columbus insure me?

  • Yes of course – you can choose from our full range of products.

• I’ve got an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) – doesn’t that cover me?

  • When you’re travelling in Europe, it’s important to take an EHIC card with you, but the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice is that you still need to take out travel insurance too. See their latest advice about taking out comprehensive travel insurance here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-insurance

    Your EHIC card covers you for emergency medical treatment in state facilities but it won’t provide you with assistance services or repatriation. It also won’t cover costs if you’re treated in a private medical centre. However, a travel insurance policy from Columbus can cover you for all of these eventualities.

    What’s more, if you use an EHIC card to reduce medical bills but still need to claim with us, we will waive your policy excess.

• I’m going travelling – do you cover backpackers?

  • Covering your adventures is what we do best! Our single trip policies can cover travel up to 365 days. Our Backpacker policy is built with you in mind and offers worldwide protection, round-the-clock medical assistance services and cover for over 150 sports and activities at no extra cost.

    It gives you up to £1 million cover for Emergency Medical Expenses, £1,000 for cancellation costs and £750 to cover what’s in your backpack. More than enough to get you round the world safely.  If you’re planning a shorter trip, our Gold, Silver and Bronze policies are available for travel up to 6 months.

• Am I covered for business trips?

  • Yes, all of our policies can cover business travel.  Add Gadget Cover to insure your mobile phone, laptop or tablet up to £1,000 or add our Business Travel Extension to add an extra £1,000 to cover for lost, damaged or delayed business equipment, or to send a colleague out in your place if you’re ill.

Emergency and Claims

• How do I make a claim?

  • We can settle some claims right away over the phone.  If you are making a claim for travel delay please make sure you have your booking invoice and a letter from the airline or carrier confirming the length of your delay before you call us. 

    Claims for emergency medical expenses up to £350 (after any excess that applies) can also be settled over the phone – in which case, please make sure you have your booking invoice along with any medical receipts and your medical report to hand before you call our claims team.

    Our claims team will be able to send you a form to complete for all other claims, which you will need to submit along with any supporting documents. Keep all receipts, accounts and documentary evidence as you will need them to make your claim.

    If you are making a claim for personal property which has been lost or stolen, don’t forget to obtain a written police report within 48 hours of its loss. If your claim is for an item with a value of £50 or more, it must be supported with the original receipt.

    You can find contact details for our claims team, along with the 24 hour hotline number for the 24 hour Emergency Medical Assistance service over on our Claims page here 

• What do I need to do if a medical emergency happens abroad?

  • Contact our 24hr Emergency Medical Assistance service right away – details can be found here .The assistance service can confirm whether costs will be covered, liaise directly with hospitals on your behalf about medical arrangements and co-ordinate any specialist travel arrangements if they’re needed.

• What do I do if my property / passport / tickets is lost or stolen abroad?

  • Please check your policy schedule to see whether cover for personal property, cash and documents and Loss of Passport Expenses are included. If you can claim, it’s important to report your loss to the police and obtain a written police report.

    If you lose cash or have cash stolen, keep proof of how you coped financially after the loss (e.g. exchange/withdrawal slips, bank/card statements).  You will also need to be able to provide evidence of the original cash withdrawal.

    If your passport is lost or stolen, you may be covered for the cost of an emergency replacement passport, as well as any reasonable travel and accommodation expenses to collect it (over and above the payment you would normally have made during your trip had the loss not occurred). Again, please keep all extra receipts for the costs, and refer to the full Policy Wording here for terms and conditions applicable.

• Will I be covered for helicopter rescue / search and rescue?

  • Your policy will cover for you for airlifts if it’s a medical necessity – for example, if you have fractured your leg whilst hiking and need to be airlifted to receive emergency medical treatment.  However, search and rescue is not covered if you are lost. 

    The exception to this is if you have added cover for Winter Sports to your policy, you can add extra cover on top of your Winter Sports option to be covered for search and rescue.  This covers costs connected with finding and rescuing you following an injury whilst skiing/snowboarding, or where weather or safety conditions are such that it becomes absolutely necessary for the local authorities or professional guide to instigate a search and rescue operation. Terms and conditions apply so please check our policy wording document for full information here. This additional cover isn’t currently available on our website as part of our winter sports package, so please call us for a quote on 0800 068 0060. 

Your Policy Benefits

• Can I remove baggage cover?

  • If you don’t need cover for baggage, take a look at our Bronze policies. They cover the basics and exclude cover for personal property. Bronze policies still have the reassurance of cover up to £1 million for emergency medical expenses, as well as cover for travel delay, cash, documents, scheduled airline failure and more. Plus, you can tailor your Bronze policy by adding £1,000 cancellation cover, or £1,000 to cover your gadgets (that’s protection for your mobile or tablet, or the kids’ handheld gaming consoles).

• If I had to cancel my trip, what would be covered?

  • You’re covered up to the amount specified on your policy schedule for unused travel and pre-booked accommodation costs, if you have to cancel your trip for an insured reason. Terms and conditions apply and full information about cancellation claims can be found in the Policy Wording which can be viewed here. Reasons for cancellation may include accidental injury or serious illness of either you, a travelling companion, immediate relative or someone with whom you have arranged to stay, or redundancy.

• Can I add cover for my mobile phone and gadgets?

  • Yes – when you get a quote online you can add Gadget Cover to your policy for £1,000 protection to cover your smartphone, laptop, tablet, SatNavs, PDAs and handheld gaming consoles.

• Can I increase my cover levels for cash and valuable items?

  • It’s not currently possible to increase your cover for money or cash. However, if you need extra cover for your belongings, take a look at our Gadget Cover. It can be added to any policy and gives you up to £1,000 cover for smartphones, tablets, laptops, SatNavs, PDAs and handheld gaming consoles. 

• Are Avios points covered?

  • Yes - If you are making a claim for cancellation and you flights have been arranged using Avios points (formerly Air Miles) or other form of redeemable vouchers and these can’t be reinstated by the issuer, we will be able to reimburse you at the lowest fare advertised by the airline for your flight.

Policy admin, lost docs, changes

• What documents do I need to take on holiday with me?

  • We recommend that you take your insurance schedule and policy wording with you when you travel. When you buy a policy, your documentation will be sent to you by email straight away, for you to print off at home. Alternatively, you can choose to have your documents sent to you in the post by ticking a box on the payment screen when buying your policy.

• Will I get my policy documents before I travel?

  • The quickest way to receive our documents is via email, which we do automatically when you buy online. You’ll normally receive your policy pack within a few minutes. You can also choose to receive your documents by post by ticking the box for postal documents on the payment page. These normally take up to 5 days to reach you

• I’ve lost my documents – how can I get replacements?

  • You can request a copy of your documents online here. 

• Can I add sports and activities to my policy after purchase?

  • Yes - If you call us before you are due to travel, we can usually add cover for a sport or activity.  Call us on 0800 068 0060 and select option 2 to speak to a member of our Customer Services team (open 9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri). 

• Can I declare a medical condition after purchase?

  • We ask that you contact us if there’s any change in your health.  We can cover many medical conditions subject to answering a few straightforward medical screening questions.  Please call us on 0800 068 0060 and select option 2 for customer services – a member of our team will be happy to help (open 9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri)

• How do I cancel my policy?

  • You can cancel your policy within 14 days from the date you receive the policy documentation at the start of your insurance or the renewal policy documentation for subsequent periods of insurance.

    Should you decide to exercise this cancellation right, you will be entitled to a refund of premium, less an appropriate pro-rata charge for the period of cover given before the cancellation right was invoked. Should any claim occur prior to the exercise of the cancellation right where the claim terminates the insurance cover, you may not receive a refund of any of the premium paid.

    To exercise this cancellation right, please contact Columbus Direct: Telephone: 0800 068 0060 or 0203 056 7994 Email: customer.services@columbusdirect.com 

• What happens when my Annual policy is due for renewal?

  • Where possible, we'll automatically renew your policy each year - to make things easier and help you avoid travelling without cover in place. You can cancel this service at any time by emailing us at customer.services@columbusdirect.com

    We will write to you at least 3 weeks before your policy is due to expire to provide you with details of the new premium and any changes to the policy terms and conditions. If you are still eligible and are happy with the renewal information, you do not need to contact us as we will automatically collect your premium and renew your policy.  Full details of the process can be found in our Terms of Business here 

• I’ve got European cover, can I upgrade to Worldwide?

  • Yes, you can change your policy to cover Worldwide destinations, provided your trip hasn’t started. Give us a call on 0800 068 0060 and select option 2 to speak to a member of our Customer Services team – they’ll be happy to help (they’re open 9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri).

• Why has my premium gone up this year?

  • We review our products and pricing regularly to ensure we remain competitive and offer good value.  There can be a number of reasons why your premium has increased since the last time. For instance, the age of the people travelling on your policy can influence price, as can their medical conditions. We offer three great levels of cover, which can be tailored with a range of useful options. So, if you’d like some help with finding one that’s the right cover, at the right price for you – give us a call on 0800 068 0060 and a member of our team will be happy to help

Medical Health

• How do I add cover for a pre-existing medical condition online?

  • You’ll be asked whether you have any pre-existing medical conditions on step 4 when getting a quote online – under the heading ‘Medical Declaration’.  If you answer ‘Yes’ to having a pre-existing condition, you will be able to select ‘Add a medical condition(s)’ underneath where you enter the dates of birth for the relevant member of your party.

• What if cover for my pre-existing medical condition is declined?

  • If your medical condition is declined, you will not be able to buy travel insurance from Columbus Direct. However, we have partnered with a specialist provider – Good to Go Insurance. They can offer cover for all types of medical conditions up to a high severity. To buy a policy from them online here

• I’m pregnant – what’s covered?

  • You won’t need to declare your pregnancy to us, as you would with a medical condition. If you were to have a complication in your pregnancy while you are away, we would cover your medical expenses.

    Please make sure that your medical practitioner and midwife are aware of your travel plans, that there are no known complications and that you are not travelling against any medical advice. If you make a claim, we have the right to request a medical certificate to confirm this.

    You’re also covered for cancellation costs if you didn’t know you were pregnant when you booked your trip (or when you bought your insurance – whichever is later) and have either had a complication in your pregnancy before you’re due to travel, or your return date is within 12 weeks of the baby’s due date.

    You may decide to travel until you are quite late into your pregnancy. Airlines and ferry/shipping companies including cruise liners have their own restrictions due to health and safety requirements – so please check with them or any other mode of transport you propose to take before you book.

    Once your baby has arrived, give us a call before you next travel and we can include them on your policy at no extra cost – children under 2 are covered free on Columbus policies!

• Is dental cover provided?

  • Yes, you will be covered up to the amount stated for dental on your policy schedule if you need emergency dental pain relief or emergency repairs to dentures and orthodontic appliances (like braces), See policy wording here for full terms and conditions.

• What is considered a pre-existing medical condition?

  • Any medical condition that has required medication, tablets, treatment, review/check-ups, surgery, tests or investigations (other than for common colds), in the 12 months prior to the commencement of cover under your policy.

• Am I covered for pre-existing medical conditions?

  • Pre-existing medical conditions are not covered unless they are declared to us, agreed by us on your policy schedule and an extra premium paid (if required). We offer cover for many medical conditions subject to screening - which can be completed online when you get a quote.

    If an additional premium is required to cover your condition(s) you can elect not to pay this but claims arising due to your medical condition(s) would not be covered. This would mean that a claim for medical costs or cancellation of the holiday would not be met, this includes the holiday costs of anyone else insured on the policy. 

• Can I be covered for my medical condition?

  • We offer cover for many medical conditions subject to screening – which can be completed online when you get a quote.

• Why won’t Columbus Direct cover my medical condition when other companies do?

  • Other companies use their own methods for medical screening and there is no industry standard – some companies are able to cover risks which we can’t, and vice versa. When we screen for pre-existing medical conditions we use a market leading, independent medical screening rating system that asks a series of questions to determine a risk score. That risk score is then used to determine the additional premium that we charge to cover that condition. A number of factors are taken into consideration, including the current status of the condition and your destination.

• If I need to cancel a trip because a friend or family member is ill or has died, am I covered?

  • If you can’t travel due to the illness or death of a either an immediate relative (see definition below), a travelling companion or someone you’d planned to stay with while away, you would be covered. 

    In some cases, a relative or travelling companion might have an existing medical condition that suddenly gets worse before travel, meaning you have to cancel your trip. This would be covered too, but only if that person’s medical practitioner can confirm in writing that, at the time you bought this insurance or at the time of booking your trip (whichever is the later), they would have seen no substantial likelihood of their patient’s state of health deteriorating to such a degree that this would become necessary. 

    * Under the terms and condition of our policies, immediate relative means: Mother, father, sister, brother, wife, husband, common law partner (must have lived together 6 consecutive months), civil partner, fiancé/e, your children (including fostered), grandparent, grandchild, parent-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece, step-parent, step-child, step-brother, step-sister, or legal guardian.

• Why won’t Columbus Direct cover my medical condition when you have previously?

  • In some circumstances, we may not be able to offer cover for a pre-existing medical condition which was covered on a previous policy. This could be due to a change in your medical condition, although other factors may apply too – such as where you are travelling to. The screening system used to assess risk is also reviewed regularly to ensure that medical conditions are being considered based on the most up to date view of that condition and the risk that it may present. This could lead to our underwriters’ consideration of a condition changing even if the diagnosis and treatment hasn't.

Winter sports cover, general sport and activities

• How do I buy Winter Sports Cover?

  • Click here for a quote including Winter Sports.  [Note – if we can’t obtain a link which pre-selects Winter Sports – we will provide instructions to select Winter Sports at Step 3 – ‘Tailor your policy’]

    What’s covered on a Winter Sports policy?

    Including Winter Sports with your policy gives you cover for skiing or snowboarding both on and off-piste (within resort boundaries).  It means you’re covered for emergency medical costs and assistance – including helicopter rescue if you need it, as well as lots of useful extras like cover for you ski equipment (whether it’s owned or hired).

    If you like to make the most of your time on the slopes, you’ll also be covered for a wide range of extra winter sports with our Winter Sports package – including Nordic skiing (on recognised paths), snowmobiling, sledging, blading, and snow zorbing!  Check our policy wording for the full list here 

    Add Winter Sports Cover to your Annual Multi Trip policy and you can choose from either 11 or 24 days’ worth of ski and snowboard cover.

    Just add the Winter Sports option to your quote at Step 3 – ‘Tailor your policy’ when you get a quote online. 

    * No cover under the Personal Liability section

• Can I ski or snowboard off-piste?

  • Yes, when you add Winter Sports to your policy, you are covered for both on and off piste skiing and snowboarding within resort boundaries.

• What is ‘walking at high altitude’ and do I need to add it to my policy?

  • Walking below 2,000 metres is automatically covered by your policy, free of charge, as is walking at altitudes between 2,000 and 4,000 provided it doesn’t involve an overnight stay. 

    Please note that Machu Picchu is 2,430m.

    If you are planning to trek Mount Kinabalu or any other summits or regions over 4,000m but under 5,800m – please contact us on 0800 068 0060 and we will be happy to discuss your requirements on an individual basis. However, please note that Kilimanjaro treks cannot be covered.

• Is my sports gear (e.g. golf clubs, scuba equipment) covered?

  • Cover for sporting gear isn’t covered automatically, but can be added to your policy.  Cover for golfing, ski or snowboard equipment can be added to your quote online – just add Golf Cover or Winter Sports Cover on Step 3 ‘Tailor your policy’.  Cover for other sports equipment can be added to your policy by calling us on 0800 068 0060 – a member of our team will be happy to help.

    Please note that any loss or damage to sports equipment whilst in use is not covered. 

• Which sports are automatically covered by my policy?

  • Having fun is what holidays are all about – which is why we include cover for over 150 sports and activities free with your policy.  Here’s the full list:

    Abseiling ‡, Aerobics, Aikido (non-contact training only) *, Angling, Archaeological digging *, Archery *, Assault course, Athletics (non-competitive, track only), Badminton, Bamboo rafting (only on inland waters) *, Banana boating, Bar/Restaurant work, Baseball *, Basketball, Beach games, Biathlon (training only) *, Billiards, Blading (no stunts), Board sailing *Ω, Body boarding Ω, Boogie boarding *Ω, Bowling/Bowls, Boxing (non-contact training only), Bungee jumping ‡, Cable car ride, Camel riding (excl trekking) *, Canoeing (incl white water up to grade 3) *Ω, Catamaran sailing (within European waters only, no racing) *, Clay pigeon shooting *, Climbing (on climbing wall only), Cricket *, Croquet, Cross country running, Curling, Cycling (excl BMX, mountain biking & touring) *, Dancing, Darts, Dinghy sailing *Ω, Dragon boat racing *, Elephant riding/trekking, Fell walking (below 2,000 metres), Fishing, Fives, Flag American Football, Flying as a passenger in an aircraft (private plane, small aircraft, glider or helicopter), Football, Fruit or vegetable picking (under 3 metres), Glass bottom boats, Go karting *, Goalball, Golf, Gorilla trekking, Gym - Fitness, Gymnastics, Handball, Helicopter rides (passenger only), Hiking (2,000 to 4,000 metres altitude, no overnight stay), Hiking (below 2,000 metres), Hobie Cat sailing *Ω, Hockey (field), Horse riding (maximum 7 days, no polo, hunting, jumping) *, Hot air ballooning (passenger only), Hot dogging (grade 1-3), Hot springs, Hydro zorbing, Ice skating (rink only), In-line skating (no stunts), Jet boating (passenger only) *, Jogging, Judo (training only) *, Jujitsu (training only) *, Karate (non-contact training only) *, Kayaking (incl white water up to grade 3) *Ω, Kendo (non-contact training only) *, Kickboxing (non-contact training only) *, Kite surfing/boarding (on a lake) *, Korfball, Llama riding *, Marathon running (training only), Martial arts (non-contact training only), Modern pentathlon (training only) *, Mopeds (maximum 125cc) *, Motorcycling (maximum 125cc) *, Mule trekking *, Netball, Non-manual labour – excl animal sanctuary/ refuge work *, Octopush, Orienteering, Ostrich riding *, Paintballing *, Parachuting (single jump/tandem only) ‡, Parasailing/parascending (towed by boat/ over water), Pedalos *, Pilates, Pony trekking, Pool, Power boating (passenger only) *, Rackets, Racquet Ball, Rafting (incl white water up to grade 3) *Ω, Rambling (below 2,000 metres), Reverse bungee, Rifle range ‡*, Ringos, River bugging (Grade 1-3) *, River sledding *, River tubing *, Roller blading (no stunts), Roller skating (no stunts), Rounders, Rowing *, Safari in vehicle/on foot (not involving use of firearms), Sailing (incl yachting and catamaran, within European waters only, no racing) *, Sand duning, Sand skiing, Sandboarding, Scuba diving (to 30 metres), Sea fishing, Shark diving (cage only) ‡, Skateboarding (no stunts), Skydiving (single jump and tandem only) ‡, Sledging or sleigh riding (passenger only, pulled by horse, reindeer or dogs), Small bore target shooting ‡*, Snooker, Snorkelling, Soccer, Softball, Speed boating (passenger only) *, Sphereing, Spinning, Squash, Surfing *, Swimming Ω, Swimming with dolphins, Sydney Harbour Bridge walk, Table tennis, Taekwondo (non-contact training only), Ten pin bowling, Tennis, Touch Football, Trampolining, Tree top trekking, Trekking (2,000 to 4,000 metres altitude, no overnight stay), Trekking (below 2,000 metres), Triathlon (training only) *, Tubing, Tug of war, Tuk tuk ride (passenger only), Volleyball, Wakeboarding *, Walking (2,000 to 4,000 metres altitude, no overnight stay), Walking (below 2,000 metres), Water hockey, Water polo, Water-skiing (no jumping) *Ω, Whale watching, Wheelchair basketball, Wind tunnel flying ‡, Windsurfing *Ω, Yachting (within European waters only, no racing) *, Yoga, Zip-lining/trekking, Zorbing

    ‡ No cover under the Personal Accident section

    * No cover under the Personal Liability section

    Ω Covered on inland waters or within 12 miles from the coast only

• How can I add cover for more sports and activities?

  • You can add an extra Adventure Pack to your policy when you get a quote online (on Step 3 – ‘Tailor your policy’).  This adds an extra premium to your policy, ands provides you with cover for:

    Athletics (non-competitive, including field) *‡ ✓ Blokarting * ,  BMX cycling (excluding stunt/obstacle) * ,  Breathing Observation Bubble (BOB) up to 18 metres * ,  Camel trekking ,  Cyclocross * ,  Deep sea fishing ,  Fencing * ,  Heptathlon ,  High diving (maximum 10 metres) ,  Horse riding (more than 7 days, no polo, hunting, jumping) * ,  Kite buggying * ,  Kite landboarding * ,  Kite surfing/boarding * ,  Lacrosse ,  Land yachting ,  Mountain biking (recreational) * ,  Rap running/jumping ,  Sand yachting * ,  Scuba diving between 30-40 metres (if qualified) ,  White water canoeing (Grade 4) * ,  White water kayaking (Grade 4) * ,  White water rafting (Grade 4) *

    ‡ No cover under the Personal Accident section

    * No cover under the Personal Liability section

    Ω Covered on inland waters or within 12 miles from the coast only

• What’s covered on a Winter Sports policy?

  • Including Winter Sports with your policy gives you cover for skiing or snowboarding both on and off-piste (within resort boundaries).  It means you’re covered for emergency medical costs and assistance – including helicopter rescue if you need it, as well as lots of useful extras like cover for you ski equipment (whether it’s owned or hired).

    If you like to make the most of your time on the slopes, you’ll also be covered for a wide range of extra winter sports with our Winter Sports package – including Nordic skiing (on recognised paths), snowmobiling, sledging, blading, and snow zorbing!  Check our policy wording for the full list here 

    Add Winter Sports Cover to your Annual Multi Trip policy for up to 17 days’ worth of ski and snowboard cover.

    Just add the Winter Sports option to your quote at Step 3 – ‘Tailor your policy’ when you get a quote online. 

    * No cover under the Personal Liability section

• Will I be covered to play in a tournament?

  • You’re automatically covered to take part in amateur tournaments for any of the sports listed as covered on your policy (please refer to the FAQs listed in this section above to find out which sports are covered automatically by your policy, and which can be cover for an extra premium).  However, we cannot cover you for professional tournaments.

Destinations

• Do Egypt / Israel / Morocco / Russia fall under Europe?

  • Purchase European cover for trips to Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco.  Please purchase Worldwide cover for trips to Israel or to Russia.  

• Am I still covered if I’m travelling to more than one country?

  • If your destination is listed as a single country on your policy schedule, please contact us on 0800 068 0060 to update your policy.

    If you have selected cover for Europe, you are covered to travel anywhere within the countries specified on your policy schedule*.  This includes:

    Member States of the European Union, Albania, Andorra, The Azores, Balearic Islands, Belarus, Bosnia, Canary Islands, Channel Islands, Croatia, Egypt, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Isle of Man, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Madeira, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Norway, Russia (West of the Urals), San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine.

    If you have selected Worldwide excluding USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean and intend to travel to one of these excluded countries, please call us on 0800 068 0060.

    * We are unable to cover you for travel to countries or specific regions that either the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) or the World Health Organisation (https://www.who.int/) has advised the public not to travel. Please refer to their websites for the latest advice.

• Am I covered to go on a cruise?

  • Yes, you’re automatically covered whilst on your cruise under the general terms and conditions of your policy. If you’d like to add specialist cruise cover you can do so for an extra premium.  This will give you added protection to cover connection costs if you miss your cruise departure, and provide cover if you have to disembark or are confined to your cabin due to an illness, including unused excursion costs.

    Cruise cover can be added to all policies and is generally available online at Step 3 - ‘Tailor your policy’, but if you can’t see it, please give us a call on 0800 068 0060 and we’ll be happy to provide a quote over the phone.

• Which countries are not covered?

  • We are unable to cover you for travel to countries or specific regions that either the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) or the World Health Organisation (https://www.who.int/) has advised the public not to travel to.

• Can I buy cover for a trip in the UK?

  • Yes, cover for a UK trip is available via our call centre – call us today on 0800 068 0060.  In addition to Single Trip cover via our call centre, if you buy an Annual Multi Trip policy online, you will be covered for UK trips where you plan to stay for at least two nights in pre-booked accommodation.

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• Am I covered in the event of strikes or industrial action?

  • If there’s industrial action affecting your outbound or return journey to the UK, you’re covered under the Travel Delay section of your policy wording if the delay goes on for more than 12 hours, provided that when the policy was purchased (or when the trip was booked – whichever is the later) there was no reasonable expectation that this would affect your trip.

    If the delay continues for more than 24 hours on your outbound flight, sea crossing, coach or train departure, you can abandon your trip and claim under the Cancellation section of your policy (an excess is applicable – see your policy schedule for details of the maximum policy benefit and excess amount). Full terms and condition can be found in the Policy Wording document here

• Am I covered if my airline goes bust?

  • All of our policies (with the exception of Globetrotter policies) include Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance.  This protects you if your scheduled airline goes into insolvency, enabling you to book equivalent flights with another airline and be reimbursed for the cost up to £5,000 per person named on your policy schedule.  This cover is provided on the basis that the prospect of the airline’s insolvency was not known at the time of booking your flight or your insurance policy (whichever is the later).

    For full terms and conditions, or if you need to claim under this part of your policy, please check the reverse of your policy schedule for details.

• Am I covered if my tour operator goes bust?

  • Bankruptcy or liquidation of tour operators or travel agents is not covered under the terms of your policy. This is because you would usually be able to make a claim under the ATOL scheme via the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) – they can help with reimbursement for your trip, or help to get you home if you are stranded abroad.  More information can be found on the ATOL website here:
    www.atol.org.uk/ 

• I’m travelling to Cuba, what travel insurance cover do I need?

  • All travellers to Cuba are required to hold travel insurance that includes medical insurance, and you will be expected to present a copy of your insurance documents on arrival in Cuba. Insurance should be valid for the full duration of your stay in Cuba and should cover medical repatriation back to the UK (which all Columbus Direct policies do). You should check any exclusions, and also make sure your policy covers you for all for the activities you want to take part in.

• What’s covered if there’s a terrorist attack?

  • If you’re affected by a terrorist attack while you are away, you will be covered for medical costs under the Emergency Medical Expenses / Repatriation section of your policy, as well as Additional Hospital Benefit (which contributes towards miscellaneous expenses if you are an inpatient).  You are also covered under the personal accident section of your policy.  Terrorism as a result of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons of mass destruction is not covered. Full details can be found in your Policy Wording document which can be viewed here

• Can I obtain cover for volcanic ash cloud disruptions?

  • With volcanic eruptions in Iceland and Bali, delays and cancellation to flights caused by volcanic ash clouds are more common than you think. That’s where Columbus can come to the rescue – choose from the following two upgrade options to protect your travel plans against this unforeseen occurrence:

    • On Silver cover add Volcanic Ash Cover – to cover you for Missed Departure, Travel Delay and Abandonment if your travel is affected by a volcanic ash cloud.
    • On Gold and Platinum cover add Volcanic Ash Cover and Emergency Travel Upgrade – covering you for all of the above, and also covering you up  to £1,400 if you are prevented from returning home due to an unforeseen reason – including volcanic ash cloud, strikes or major weather disruption.

    Both options are available when you get a quote online at Step 3 - ‘Tailor your policy’.

• Where can I find information about how you use my personal data, under GDPR?

  • On 25^th May 2018, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force within the EU – putting consumers in greater control of their personal data. Full details about how we collect, store and process your data can be viewed online in our privacy policy. This also explains your rights, including your right to request a copy of your personal data or to request its deletion, as well as how to get in touch with our Data Protection Officer.