Columbus travel insurance

[kiwi2768]

I must say the discount available through this website is very generous. A policy for travel to the US for 2 months will cost the 2 of us just $358. It seems to have all we need - my main concern was the medical but it covers us up to $12.5 million. I would never, ever consider going anywhere without travel insurance and anyone who travels to the US without it must be insane.

I was speaking with someone who has recently visited the US, and previously lived there. They said if you need to go to the hospital the first thing you are asked for is your credit card :-| and there is a price list on the wall.

The stories I've heard about people having to mortgage their house to pay for medical bills of a loved one travelling in the US are frightening. Shelling out less than $400 is very worthwhile when you consider the alternative.

As the saying goes "if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel."

 

[gazgolf1]

I must say the discount available through this website is very generous.

Can you tell me how to get discount with Columbus please?

 

[kiwi2768]

You need to join this site as a Gold Member, if you haven't already done so. Then on the discussion board page, there is a Gold Member Privileges thread. You need click on "20% Discount off Columbus Direct Travel Insurance". You must use the link the get the 20% discount.

In my case, the saving on the travel insurance is more than what the gold membership cost.

Even without the discount, Columbus Direct is quite a lot cheaper than most of the other insurance.

 

[gazgolf1]

Thanks Kiwi, can you recommend Columbus or can anyone else reading this thread?

 

[straitman]

Thanks Kiwi, can you recommend Columbus or can anyone else reading this thread?

gazgolf1,

Have a look back for other threads about travel insurance as there have been a few. Some people here like it and some do not. It will all depend upon your requirements.

I used Columbus via this site for a few years without issue. I did not need to make a claim in that period so did not test the claims process.

 

[serfty]

Read the PDS's carefully.

While Columbus is relatively inexpensive, even without the discount, it may not provide as much cover that other companies which may cost slightly more (or much more).

 

[notzac]

Read the PDS's carefully.

+1000000000 on that point. Yes travel insurance is important, but knowing what you're actually covered for is even more important.

I've not used Colombus myself, so I don't know what they're like. I normally insure through Travel Insurance Direct - their product suits me fine, but as always YMMV.

 

[JohnK]

I have purchased an annual policy with Travel Insurance Direct for the past 3 years and also pay to reduce the excess to $0 and all up costs ~$340 a year.

I have had to make 1 claim with them and it was paid within a couple of weeks without any hassle....

 

[oz_mark]

As a guide to how much cover for parts of the world, such as the US costs, consider the prices of an annual QBE policy through travelinsurance.com.au:

worldwide: $411

or

worldwide EXCLUDING USA, Canada, South or Central America or Antartica if more than 72 hours of any one trip is to these destinations $247

Quite a difference, so even the insurers know what they are up against in that part of the world!

 

[BAM1748]

Remember insurance is a "promise to pay", so choose the firm you use wisely.

kiwi says she wouldn't go without it, if you choose the cheapest or an overseas entity you might find you don't get anything anyway.

Although not involved in the insurance business these days, in 2008 the average US medical claim following a motor vehicle accident on a travel policy was $460K, sounds like an awful lot (which it is) but a week in a US private hospital can be $90K. A doctor call out to a hotel for a sore throat is $600, setting a broken leg in plaster is $10K.

Suggest an APRA approved insurer for all types of cover, not just travel.

PM me if anyone wants a link to an insurer I use which ticks the boxes.

Matt

 

[NYCguy]

The cost of health care in the USA is indeed quite terrifying. The cost of repatriating "mortal remains" from anywhere to anywhere else is not cheap either. I would suggest that only those who are very wealthy or very foolhardy would choose to travel without insurance. I personally rely on the policy that comes with my Centurion card, but that wouldn't suit everybody, and I do have the odd Euro or two sitting around in the event that there are shortcomings with the policy.

I concur with the "read the PDS" advice also. Read it carefully. Telephone the insurer and ask questions if there is anything you don't understand. And don't be lulled into a false sense of security by traveling to a destination outside the USA - fixing a broken leg at Verbier or Cerro Catedral will cost you as much as fixing a broken leg at Jackson Hole.

 

[straitman]

kiwi2768,

Keep us posted as to what you have decided and why you consider it the best option.