Why is your travel insurance is so much cheaper than others? Is there a catch?Our whole philosophy revolves around delivering great customer service and value-for-money when providing you with travel insurance. The main reason we can offer our policies at such competitive prices is that we sell 'direct' rather than through a travel agent. We therefore effectively cut out the middleman, meaning you get to speak direct to a company that specialises in insurance; what's more, you pay a lot less for it.
Who underwrites your policies?Certain syndicates at Lloyd's of London underwrite our policies. Lloyd's is the world's leading insurance market and covers all classes of business from more than 190 countries worldwide. To view the current Insurer Financial Strength Ratings of the Lloyd's market see
Lloyd's Market Ratings. Lloyd's are members of the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) and participate in The Insurance Ombudsman Service (formerly the Insurance Enquiries and Complaints scheme). For further information about Lloyd's in Australia see
Lloyd's Worldwide - Australia.
Is it really that important to take out travel insurance?In general the rule goes that if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. We pride ourselves on providing one of the best value policies on the market, so it shouldn't take up too much of your budget. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade recommends all Australians take out travel insurance when travelling overseas. If you're still not convinced you may wish to visit their site:
Why all Australians should take out travel insurance before going overseas.How soon before my trip should I buy travel insurance?We recommend you take out travel insurance as soon as you have paid for your trip (or put down a deposit). That way we can cover you for loss of deposits or payments for unused travel and accommodation in the event that you must cancel your trip due to a covered event (for example, if you are too ill to travel).
Do you have an upper age limit on who you can cover?As with most travel insurance policies we do have an upper age limit and currently we can only offer travel insurance to those aged 64 or under.
What I am covered for under your policies?Our policies cover the standard things you'd expect from travel insurance including medical expenses, emergency repatriation, baggage, forced cancellation, money and tickets, personal accident, personal liability, missed departure, travel delay and more. Cover levels will vary dependent on the type of policy you choose (eg. international or domestic, extra cover for winter sports etc.) For a full listing of the benefits and cover levels,
click here for an instant quote or call us today.
Can you send me a brochure?We believe in keeping our costs low and passing those savings on to you. As such we don't produce glossy brochures, instead we prefer to provide a personalised quote - either over the phone or through our online insurance engine - providing you with all the guidance and information you require at the best possible price.
What is the maximum cover for my personal effects?With our International policies you are covered for up to AU$6,250 for Personal Baggage in total. There is a Single Article limit of AU$750 and a total Valuables limit of AU$750. You will also be covered for up to AU$2,500 for the loss of money, travel tickets and passport under certain circumstances. For Domestic policies you are covered for up to AU$2,500 with a Single Article and Valuables limit of AU$500.
Can you cover my digital camera and other valuable items?We can cover valuable items, such as cameras and jewelry, up to a total limit of AU$750 for International policies or AU$500 for Domestic. We do not currently offer additional cover for items of higher value, however you may find that certain more valuable items are covered by your home contents policy even if you are taking them on your trip (you will need to check this with your home contents insurance provider direct).
Can you cover sports equipment?Yes, most sports equipment would fall under Personal Baggage cover (up to the Single Article limit of AU$750). However, under our Winter Sports policy there is additional cover for ski equipment (up to AU$750).
Why don't you offer unlimited cover for Medical Expenses?We provide cover of up to $12.5 million for Medical Expenses. This limit is set by the underwriters to place a finite figure on their potential liability. In over 15 years of providing travel insurance, Columbus Direct has never received a claim whereby this limit did not comfortably cover a medical expenses claim.
