columbus annual travel insurance

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• Trip Protection Annual Multi-Trip

Convenient annual travel insurance protects your money, health, and belongings

One trip just isn’t enough.

That’s why you need the best annual trip protection, so you can see more, do more, and experience more, always knowing you’re prepared for the unexpected.

With Seven Corners Trip Protection Annual Multi-Trip, you can travel as often as you want on one convenient plan. That’s travel protection for a whole year that provides coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, and trip delay. You’ll also get travel medical benefits, COVID-19 coverage — including protection for medical expenses, trip cancellation, and more if you get sick — and baggage protection for every trip you take throughout the year.*

* Subject to plan limits per term

When should I take out annual travel insurance?

If you travel frequently — domestically, internationally, or both — an annual trip protection plan may be for you. Whether you’re a solo traveler, young family, or senior, this multi-trip plan protects your money, health, and belongings. Purchase it before your first trip and enjoy 365 days of peace of mind.

Protect your money

Protect your health, protect your belongings, 24/7 travel assistance services.

When the unexpected happens, the right trip protection can help you recover money you would have otherwise lost due to a trip cancellation, trip interruption, or trip delay.

When your domestic health insurance doesn’t cover you during your trips, travel medical benefits can pay for the cost of vital healthcare.

Travel Medical Expenses

• Pays up to $250,000 ($50,000 for New Hampshire residents)
• Covers the cost of treatment for medical emergencies (including COVID-19 and Adventure Activities) that occur during your trip. $100 deductible applies ($50 for Florida residents).
• Emergency dental expenses are covered up to $750. No deductible.

Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains

• Provides primary coverage up to $500,000
• Covers the expense of transporting you to the nearest adequate medical facility or returning you home if appropriate medical care is not available at your destination. Includes Adventure Sports Coverage.

You packed the essentials, which means not having them on your trip is less than ideal. Travel insurance can help pay to replace them.

Baggage and Personal Effects Coverage

• Pays up to $2,000
• Reimburses you for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage, as well as sporting equipment and personal effects
• $100 deductible ($50 for Florida residents) and a $500 per item limit apply.

Baggage Delay

• Reimburses you up to $100 per day to a maximum of $1,000
• Covers the expense of replacing clothing, toiletries, and other essential items if your baggage is delayed for the length of time specified in your plan

Travel assistance services are provided by battleface Robin Assist, an emergency assistance team available 24/7 worldwide. Travel assistance services can include emergency telephone interpretation assistance, roadside assistance, emergency cash transfer assistance, missed connections coordination, legal referrals, and more.

All coverage and plan costs shown are in United States dollar amounts, per person, and up to the amount shown. The limit for each benefit is the total maximum limit for the plan year.

• Frequently Asked Questions

Who can buy Seven Corners Trip Protection Annual Multi-Trip?

This plan is available to U.S. residents.

You cannot purchase this plan if you reside in one of these states: Minnesota, New York, and Washington.

Where can I travel?

This plan is ideal for both domestic trips in the United States and international trips.

View list of destinations not covered by this plan

How many trips per year am I covered for?

You can travel as often as you like during the length of your plan’s coverage as long as each trip does not exceed 40 days (30 days for Florida residents).

Do I need to notify Seven Corners when I go on a trip?

No. Whether you’ve been planning a trip for months or decide to take a spur-of-the-moment getaway, you do not need to notify us before you travel. You’ll still be covered by your annual plan.

Is the Trip Cancellation limit per trip or for the entire year?

Coverage limits shown for Seven Corners Trip Protection Annual Multi-Trip are cumulative for the plan year.

What is a pre-existing condition, and can I get coverage for one?

A pre-existing condition is an illness, disease, or other condition that you, a family member, or traveling companion has before your coverage begins. They may include conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and more.

Pre-existing conditions are covered by Trip Protection Annual Multi-Trip after the policy has been in effect for 60 days. At the end of your annual coverage, you can re-buy the plan for an additional year. If you purchase again without a gap in coverage, you do not need to wait another 60 days to gain pre-existing conditions coverage.

This can be a complicated subject, so we recommend you read your plan document and contact us if you have questions.

What if I think I might take one or more trips with a value of greater than $10,000?

For trips exceeding $10,000, we recommend purchasing Seven Corners Trip Protection for single trips instead of the annual multi-trip plan. This will provide better coverage for travel with higher trip costs in the event of a trip cancellation or interruption.

What is Adventure Sports Coverage?

Adventure Sports Coverage can pay benefits if you suffer an injury while participating in adventure activities. These activities include cycling, mountain climbing up to 15,000 feet, fishing, scuba diving for qualified divers up to a maximum depth of 40 meters, scuba diving for unqualified divers up to a maximum depth of 30 meters, snorkeling, white or black water rafting, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, camping, hiking, backpacking, sailing, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, tobogganing, snow tubing, and ice skating.

Can I get a refund if I’m not satisfied?

If you are not satisfied for any reason, you may cancel your plan within 10 days from the date of purchase by contacting battleface at [email protected] . We will refund your plan cost paid provided there has been no incurred loss, you have not departed on a covered trip, or you have not filed a claim under your plan.

For full details about this plan and what is covered, review your plan document .

Important Note: This plan is underwritten by Spinnaker Insurance Company (an IL Corporation, NAIC# 24376), with administrative office at One Pluckemin Way, Suite 102, Bedminster, NJ 07921. Plans are offered and administered by battleface Insurance Services LLC, 45 East Lincoln Street, Columbus, OH 43215, National Producer Number 18731960 (FL License number L107363/CA License number 0M75381). Travel Retailers offering this plan may not be licensed insurance producers and cannot answer technical questions about the terms, benefits, exclusions, and conditions of this insurance or evaluate the adequacy of your existing insurance. Your Travel Retailer may be compensated for the purchase of a Plan and may provide general information about the Plans offered, including a description of the coverage and price. The purchase of this Plan is not required in order to purchase other travel products or services offered by your Travel Retailer. This is a brief description of the coverage provided under policy series RIG-1000. The Policy will contain reductions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions. Please refer to the Policy for complete details. If there are conflicts between the information on this site and the Policy, the Policy will govern in all cases. Not all products or coverages may be available in all jurisdictions.

Non-insurance assistance services are provided by Robin Assist LLC (in CA: battleface Insurance Services dba Robin Assist).

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Best Annual Travel Insurance in 2024

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

If you’re a frequent traveler, annual travel insurance may be something you’ve been considering. Unlike single-trip insurance, annual travel insurance plans can cover you for an entire year, no matter how often you’re on the road.

Let’s look at the best yearly travel insurance companies, why we choose them and the coverage you can expect.

Factors we considered when picking travel insurance companies

We used the following criteria when choosing which companies we thought were best:

Cost . Annual plans can be expensive — depending on the type of coverage you choose — so we wanted ensure that they stayed affordable. 

Types of coverage . Travel insurance for annual travelers can be limited in its coverage. We picked the ones with the broadest range of coverage for possible travel disruptions.

Coverage amounts . Annual trip insurance isn’t worth much if your limits are too low. Instead, we wanted plans with reasonable coverage amounts. 

Customizability . If your travels take you to different places, you’ll want the ability to customize your plan. The best annual travel insurance plans can provide this. 

» Learn more: What does travel insurance cover?

An overview of the best annual travel insurance

We gathered quotes from various travel insurance companies to determine the best annual travel insurance policies. In these examples, we used a year-long trip by a 22-year-old from Alabama. We indicated the main countries of travel as France and Malaysia, and when asked, put the total trip costs at $6,000.

The average cost for an annual travel insurance plan came out to $220. The plans ranged from $138-$386.

Let’s take a closer look at our top recommendations for annual travel insurance.

1. Allianz Travel

What makes Allianz travel insurance great:

Lower than average cost.

Provides health care and travel insurance benefits.

Includes rental car insurance up to $45,000. 

Here’s a snippet from our Allianz Travel insurance review :

“AllTrips Basic (annual plan) is suitable for those who would like emergency medical coverage while abroad but don't need trip cancellation and interruption benefits. The AllTrips Prime, Executive and Premier plans provide an entire year of comprehensive travel insurance benefits.

The Executive and Premier plans offer various levels of trip cancellation and interruption benefits. The Executive plan is specifically designed for business travelers since it offers protection for business equipment.”

2. Seven Corners

What makes Seven Corners great:

Offers up to $20,000 for acute coverage of pre-existing conditions. 

Includes up to $1 million for emergency medical evacuation. 

Optional add-on for adventure sport activities.

$0 deductible available. 

Here’s a snippet from our Seven Corners review :

“Seven Corners offers one annual policy called Travel Medical Annual Multi-Trip. The policy can be customized depending on how long you plan to be away from home for any one trip. You can travel as much as you like during the 364 days, so long as any one trip doesn’t exceed the option selected — 30, 45 or 60 days.”

What makes IMG great:

Good customizability with medical evacuations and sports coverage. 

Low $250 deductible.

Includes coverage for semi-private hospital rooms. 

Here’s a snippet from our IMG review:

“Some policies provide emergency medical evacuation coverage, while others skip this benefit entirely. This benefit may be more important to you if you travel to a remote location or engage in physical activity such as trekking.

More comprehensive plans may include other benefits such as assistance with acquiring a new passport, reimbursing reward mile redeposit fees or coverage for pre-existing conditions. If these are something you’re interested in, be sure to check that your policy includes these options.”

4. Trawick International

What makes Trawick International great:

100% coverage for trip cancellation and trip interruption. 

Emergency medical evacuation included. 

Trip delay reimbursement coverage. 

Here’s a snippet from our Trawick International review :

“Trawick International is a comprehensive travel insurance provider that offers trip delay and cancellation insurance, baggage delay coverage, medical coverage and medical evacuation, rental car damage protection, and even COVID-19 coverage among its various policies.

Trawick covers trips for worldwide destinations, including for foreign nationals coming to the U.S.”

What does travel insurance cover?

You’ll find a wide variety of coverage types offered by travel insurance policies. This is true whether you're purchasing a single-trip or annual travel insurance plan. Here are some common types you can expect to find:

Accidental death insurance .

Baggage delay and lost luggage insurance .

Cancel for Any Reason insurance .

Emergency evacuation insurance .

Medical insurance .

Rental car insurance .

Trip cancellation insurance .

Trip interruption insurance .

How to choose the best annual travel insurance policy

While we’ve highlighted some of the best annual travel insurance companies, the truth is that the best plan for you isn’t going to be the best plan for someone else. If you’re interested in buying annual travel insurance, you’ll want to collect a variety of quotes to see which policy best fits your needs.

This may mean opting for a plan that covers pre-existing conditions or one that specifically includes high-risk activities. Or, if you’re in a country where health care is notoriously expensive, you may want to choose a policy with higher maximums.

Many credit cards come with complimentary travel insurance .

Whatever the case, do your research first and review all the plan details before making your purchase.

» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance

If you want to buy annual travel insurance

Annual travel insurance can be a great option if you’re often out of town. With such a wide range of policies available, selecting a plan that fits your needs is easy. We’ve done some of the work for you by choosing the best annual travel insurance companies, all of which made the top of the list for their cost, customizability, types of coverage and plan maximums.

Like any travel insurance policy, the cost of your plan is going to vary. Factors that may affect the cost of your annual travel insurance include your age, where you’re going, how long you’ll be traveling, your policy maximums and whether preexisting conditions are included.

Although not all travel insurance providers offer annual travel insurance, many of them do. We’ve gathered together the five best, including Allianz Travel, World Nomads, Seven Corners, IMG and Trawick International.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

U.S. News takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

The 5 Best Annual Travel Insurance Plans of 2024

Allianz Travel Insurance »

AIG Travel Guard »

Seven Corners »

GeoBlue »

Trawick International »

Why Trust Us

U.S. News evaluates ratings, data and scores of more than 50 travel insurance companies from comparison websites like TravelInsurance.com, Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip, plus renowned credit rating agency AM Best, in addition to reviews and recommendations from top travel industry sources and consumers to determine the Best Annual Travel Insurance Plans.

Table of Contents

• Allianz Travel Insurance
• AIG Travel Guard

Buying travel insurance can be a smart move for most trips, but those who travel more than a few times a year should consider an annual travel insurance policy. Whether you regularly travel for business and/or take several vacations a year, annual travel insurance plans can help you get the coverage you need without having to price out and purchase protection every time you leave home.

If you find yourself in a situation where an annual plan makes sense, know that not all travel insurance companies offer this kind of coverage. You'll also want to consider the available annual travel insurance plans to see which options make sense for your travel style and the level of coverage you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Annual travel insurance plans all work in their own way, but the majority let travelers pay one annual premium for coverage that lasts for up to 364 days. These plans often limit the length of individual trips that are covered within the coverage year. Per-trip and annual limits on coverage can also apply.

In some cases, annual travel insurance plans require a deductible or coinsurance for certain types of coverage. If you're considering an annual travel insurance plan because you take multiple trips each year, make sure you read over the policy details and understand all coverage limits and trip limits that apply.

The cost of annual travel insurance typically varies based on factors like the age of the travelers applying, included benefits and coverage limits. You will want to shop around to compare plans across multiple providers using a platform like TravelInsurance.com or Squaremouth before you settle on a travel insurance policy.

To provide an example of the cost of annual travel insurance, U.S. News applied for a quote for two 40-year-old travelers seeking coverage for eight trips over a 12-month period. The Squaremouth travel insurance portal quoted policies with costs that range from $206 for the GeoBlue Trekker Essential plan to $610 for the Safe Travels Annual Deluxe plan by Trawick International.

Annual travel insurance can be worth it if you take multiple trips each year and want to make sure you always have coverage in place. After all, the alternative to having a multitrip policy is buying a new travel insurance plan for every vacation you take. That's not always feasible for frequent travelers who are always jetting off somewhere new – often at the last minute.

Just keep in mind that annual travel insurance plans tend to come with lower coverage limits than plans for single trips, and that you'll pay a premium for coverage that comes with comprehensive benefits and high limits for medical expenses and emergency evacuation.

• Allianz Travel Insurance: Best Overall
• AIG Travel Guard: Best for Basic Coverage
• Seven Corners: Best for Medical
• GeoBlue: Best for Expats
• Trawick International: Best for the Cost

Tailor your annual travel insurance plan to your needs

Most plans include coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, travel delays, medical expenses, and more

Lowest-tier plans (AllTrips Basic and AllTrips Prime) come with no or relatively low coverage limits for trip cancellation

Most annual plans (except for AllTrips Premier) do not cover trips longer than 45 days

• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to between $2,000 and $15,000
• Trip interruption coverage worth up to between $2,000 and $15,000
• Emergency medical coverage worth up to $50,000
• Up to $500,000 in emergency medical transportation coverage
• Up to $2,000 in coverage for lost or damaged baggage
• Up to $2,000 in coverage for baggage delays
• Travel delay coverage worth up to $1,500 ($300 daily limit)
• Rental car coverage worth up to $45,000
• Up to $50,000 in travel accident coverage
• 24-hour hotline assistance and concierge service

Annual Travel Insurance Plan offers year-round travel insurance protection

Relatively high limits for medical expenses ($50,000) and emergency evacuation ($500,000)

No trip cancellation coverage and relatively low limit ($2,500) for trip interruption coverage

No coverage for preexisting medical conditions

• Up to $2,500 in coverage for trip interruption
• Up to $1,500 in coverage for trip delays of five-plus hours ($150 per day limit)
• Missed connection coverage worth up to $500
• Up to $2,500 in baggage insurance
• Baggage delay coverage worth up to $1,000 for delays of at least 12 hours.
• Up to $50,000 for emergency medical expenses ($500 for emergency dental sublimit)
• Up to $500,000 for emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains
• Up to $50,000 in accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
• Up to $100,000 in protection for security evacuation

Provides coverage worth up to $250,000 for emergency medical expenses

Tailor other included benefit levels to your needs

Coverage only applies to trips up to 40 days

Deductible up to $100 applies for emergency medical coverage and baggage and personal effects

• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to between $2,500 and $10,000
• Trip interruption coverage worth up to 150% of the trip cancellation limit
• Up to $2,000 in trip delay coverage ($200 daily limit)
• Up to $1,000 in protection for missed connections
• Up to $250,000 in coverage for emergency medical expenses ($50,000 in New Hampshire)
• $750 dental sublimit within emergency medical coverage
• Up to $500,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains
• Up to $2,000 in coverage for baggage and personal effects
• Baggage delay coverage worth up to $1,000 ($100 daily limit)
• 24/7 travel assistance services

Get annual coverage for medical expenses and routine medical care

High limits for medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation

GeoBlue plans don't offer comprehensive travel protection

Deductibles and copays apply

• Ambulatory and therapeutic services
• Inpatient hospital services
• Emergency medical services
• Rehabilitation and therapy
• Preventive and primary care

Choose among three tiers of annual travel protection

Option for basic protection with affordable premiums

No coverage for preexisting conditions

Maximum trip duration of 30 days per trip

• Trip cancellation coverage up to $2,500 maximum per year
• Trip interruption coverage up to $2,500 maximum per year
• $200 per trip for trip delays (up to $100 per day for delays of 12 hours or longer)
• Up to $500 in coverage per trip for baggage and personal effects
• Baggage delay coverage up to $100 per trip
• Up to $10,000 for emergency medical expenses per trip
• Up to $50,000 in emergency medical evacuation coverage per trip
• Up to $10,000 in AD&D coverage
• 24-hour travel assistance services

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a travel expert who has researched travel insurance options for her own vacations and family trips to more than 50 countries around the world. On a personal level, her family uses an annual travel insurance policy from Allianz. Johnson works alongside her husband, Greg – who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states – within their family media business and travel agency .

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Holly Johnson

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All you need to know about annual travel insurance policies

As demand for travel soars and everything from weather to staffing issues leads to higher prices and cancellations, it's more important than ever to protect your trip arrangements with travel insurance .

However, it's not always easy figuring out which type of plan to pick. There are standard policies that cover general delays, interruptions and cancellations; "cancel for any reason" plans that account for personal whims in addition to unforeseen circumstances; and lesser-known annual options.

In this article, I'll go over what you need to know about the third type: annual travel insurance coverage.

For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter .

What is annual travel insurance?

Annual travel insurance plans (also known as multi-trip plans) last for one year and generally cover all trips taken within that period until either the policy expires or the maximum payout amounts are reached. The policy usually kicks in for trips that take you more than a certain distance from home.

For example, my Allianz AllTrips Prime annual plan remains in effect for one year following the purchase date of my policy. I'm covered on all trips during which I'm at least 100 miles from my residence.

This differs from standard travel insurance, which is purchased on a per-trip basis and covers only one specifically insured journey per policy. Standard policies begin when travel for the insured trip begins and end when the insured trip ends, rather than covering multiple travel experiences within a specific period of time.

What does annual travel insurance cover?

Coverage depends on the plan you purchase. There are usually several tiers from which to choose, with the lowest offering the least coverage and the highest offering the most.

Using my policy as an example, I'm covered for up to $3,000 per year in trip interruption expenses, including hotel room coverage at $250 per night, which I used when I was recently isolated for 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19.

My policy also offers a $3,000 annual trip cancellation benefit, $20,000 in emergency medical coverage, $100,000 in emergency transportation (including medevac services), $45,000 in rental car theft and damage protection, $25,000 in travel accident coverage and $1,000 for essentials in the event of baggage loss or damage, along with a handful of other small benefits.

Note that many annual policies do not include things like "cancel for any reason" coverage or trip interruption benefits. If those items are important to you, check with your provider before making a purchase.

How much is an annual travel insurance policy?

Sure, an annual travel insurance policy may sound great, but how much does one cost? I was surprised to find that insuring your trips for a whole year with an annual policy is often not much more expensive than insuring one or two trips individually, depending on the options you select.

A decent annual travel insurance plan will likely set you back a couple hundred dollars. The more coverage you add, the more expensive the plan will become. The cost also changes depending on variables like your age and where you live.

The best thing to do is contact your preferred provider for a quote or check out an aggregator like InsureMyTrip to compare premiums.

Which companies offer annual travel insurance plans?

The Points Guy recommends the following travel insurance providers , all of which sell annual or semi-annual policies:

• Allianz Travel Insurance .
• Seven Corners .
• Travel Guard .
• World Nomads .

When should I purchase annual travel insurance?

There are several reasons why annual travel insurance might be better for you than separate policies for individual trips. If you travel a lot — more than two or three times annually — it could be more cost-effective than purchasing separate policies for each journey.

For me, it makes sense because I travel for a living, often taking a dozen or more trips each year. Also, much of my travel is comped, which makes insurance more difficult to acquire. (If I haven't paid for a cruise, flight or hotel, I can't attach a dollar amount to it and, therefore, often can't insure it. I also wouldn't be able to provide purchase receipts in the event something went wrong and had to file a claim.)

Other factors to consider include your health, how adventurous your travels might be, whether you have coverage as a credit card perk and how much your travel arrangements cost versus how much coverage you can get with an annual plan versus individual policies.

Another consideration right now is COVID-19. For me, the annual plan made sense because most of Allianz's individual plans don't cover issues linked to COVID-19. However, the annual coverage I purchased does.

Other things to know about annual travel insurance policies

Here are a few additional tidbits I learned after filing a trip interruption claim under my annual travel insurance policy. Keep them in mind when deciding if an annual policy is right for you.

• Before committing to the purchase of any travel insurance plan, make sure to inquire about specific components that are important to you. For me, those were COVID-19 coverage, trip interruption benefits and medevac coverage.
• Know that your coverage does not reset each time you travel when you opt for an annual policy. So, if you have a trip that goes awry, you file a claim and you max out the benefit allowed by your plan, you won't have that benefit available to you for the remainder of your policy year.
• Depending on your policy, you might have to return home between travel sessions in order for each trip to be covered. Taking several back-to-back trips could prevent them from qualifying for coverage under your annual insurance plan, so be sure to read the fine print, and plan accordingly.
• If you purchase annual or multi-trip travel insurance, keep your policy card and provider phone number with the other important documents you bring when you travel so they're easily accessible in a pinch.
• If you find yourself in a covered situation for which you'd like to seek reimbursement, keep all receipts and take photos that will help to support your claims when they're submitted.
• Don't assume all your expenses will be reimbursed, even if you think they'll be covered. It doesn't hurt to try, but in my case, my Allianz plan only partially covered the hotel expenses I submitted.

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Columbus Direct Reviews

All policyholders get free airport lounge access if their flight is delayed by more than 1 hour, plus 5 days unlimited global Wi-Fi access.

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• 10873 reviews found on websites such as TrustPilot
• Their Gold level of cover is rated 5 Star by Defaqto
• Over 150 sports and activities covered for free
• Free airport lounge access if your flight is delayed for more than one hour
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• 10% online discount
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• £15m limit for medical cover
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Quotes our team received.

Trip Details

7 nights in Spain

Single Trip Quote

Medical cover limit, cancellation cover limit.

Worldwide cover including USA

Annual Trip Quote

Frequently asked questions.

Columbus Direct currently offers five policies; Single, Annual Multi-Trip, Single Trip with Winter Sports, Annual Multi-Trip with Winter Sports and Backpacker. Each policy has three different levels of cover to choose from; Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Columbus Direct does not cover travel to a country, specific area or event which the Travel Advice Unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised against all travel or all but essential travel. For more information, visit the FCO website .

For medical claims, Columbus Direct has a 24-hour emergency medical assistance number which will confirm whether your treatment is covered over the phone. For all other claims, you must complete a claim form which will be assessed within 5 working days

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Columbus Direct travel insurance review

Columbus direct offer several types of travel insurance, covering more than 150 sports and activities. find out more about what this specialist provider has to offer..

In this guide

What types of policies does Columbus Direct offer?

Cover limits, claims process, how to contact columbus direct, columbus direct customer reviews, pros and cons, our verdict, frequently asked questions.

Columbus Direct travel insurance covers more than 150 sports and activities. The company has provided cover for over 15 million customers since 1988. Here’s what you need to know.

Columbus Direct offers several types of travel insurance policies:

• Single trip
• Single trip with water sports
• Annual multi-trip
• Annual multi-trip with water sports

All Columbus Direct travel insurance policies cover more than 150 sports and activities. You’ll be covered for medical emergencies (up to £15 million), flight cancellations (up to £5,000) and lost, stolen or damaged belongings (up to £2,500). You can add cover for winter sports or water sports if you need to.

Single trip insurance can last up to 365 days.

With annual multi-trip insurance, you can go on as many trips as you like, provided each journey begins and ends in the UK. To be covered by this policy, the maximum length of each trip should be 31, 45 or 60 days (depending on what you choose).

The maximum age for cover is 74 for annual multi-trip insurance, or 85 for single trip insurance. Cover for people with pre-existing medical conditions is available.

You can make a claim via the Columbus Direct website, or over the phone.

The phone number for medical emergencies is 0208 865 1640. The phone number for other claims is 0208 865 1654. Certain claims up to £350 can be settled instantly over the phone.

You’ll need to provide a booking invoice, a letter from your airline (for travel delay), medical receipts or medical reports.

For customer service queries, email [email protected] .

Columbus Direct has received more than 10,000 reviews on Trustpilot. As at January 2021, its average rating was 4.4 out of 5. While there are many positive reviews, the company seems to have struggled to keep up with the volume of queries from customers during the pandemic. Columbus Direct customers in Finder’s 2021 customer satisfaction survey liked its “simple” and “transparent” policies, but a few had issues when making a claim.

• More than 150 activities covered as standard
• You can cover yourself for up to 365 days on a single trip, or up to 60 days on an annual policy
• Backpacker insurance is available
• General customer service queries are available by email only

Wherever you’re going and whatever you’re doing, Columbus Direct is likely to cover you. It’s had a reputation as a reliable travel insurance provider but has admitted that response times during the pandemic were hit by the influx of queries.

How do I get a quote from Columbus Direct?

Can i get cover if i don't live in the uk, what is backpacker insurance, travel insurance ratings.

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Danny Butler

Danny is a publisher at Finder specialising in insurance and investing. He previously worked at the global insurer Aon and has appeared in national media giving advice on insurance. Danny holds a BA in International Business from the University of Plymouth and has undying loyalty to his average-poor football team, Portsmouth FC.

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A very prompt reply to my emailed…

A very prompt reply to my emailed question. Thank you to Carlo.

Date of experience : 06 February 2024

Travel Insurance Claim

Travel Insurance Claim - Ref: 587757 Ive just been told that "Your policy doesn't provide cover if you didn't seek the advice of a medical professional which confirms the necessity to cancel the trip." Myself and my family were due to travel on Sunday 07/01/2024. My son and myself both fell ill that week and so on the Friday went to see our local surgery where we were both diagnosed with flu like symptoms. I was given a sick note to use should the need arise - which I duly attached to my claim. We were still hoping to travel on the Sunday but unfortunately we did not recover in time for our trip. The doctors surgery is closed on a Sunday, so we were unable to see a GP and anyway I assumed the sick note from the Friday would cover this. Columbus Direct appear to be trying to trip me up on a vague technicality. So, Im now having to try to sort all this out, myself with flu, whilst looking after a sick 11 year old boy.

Date of experience : 09 January 2024

Reply from Columbus Direct

Thank you for raising awareness of your experience. We understand that you used our online claims service to submit your claim. Subsequent to your comments, our claims team have now contacted you to explain what triggered our response to the claim and to advise what was needed from you for us to be able to make a payment. We are sorry that the claims experience has not been as easy as we try to make it for our customers and hope that we can get this matter resolved with you as quickly as possible now.

Have had very poor service..travel…

Have had very poor service..travel insurance claim still not resolved after 10 months......communication is poor....emails are met with the sorry for the delay but all our claim handlers are busy. ie they do not employ enough claims handlers for their business. This is a shame because my medical recovery was handled very well.

Date of experience : 02 November 2023

Hi Steve. Thanks for bringing these issues to our attention. We're pleased to hear your comments that when you needed emergency assistance, the team that looked after you did so very well, but sorry to learn that you felt this level of service was not continued when your case then went to the claims team. Just a couple of quick notes. These services are provided by the same company, just different teams and we'd expect the service from both to be at a high level. Also, our claims team are contactable by phone and there is a contact number provided in your policy wording. We understand that the claims team have already been in touch to confirm the position of the case and to also arrange a payment that was due to you. We have also sked the team to log a complaint regarding the service received so a full investigation can be conducted into the handling of the case.

I've used Columbus many times and find…

I've used Columbus many times and find the system works well, the coverages pretty broad, and price competitive. Yet, they should cover cross-country skiing that is not on a piste, as it is usual to ski off resorts (in Canada). Bizarrely, in 2003 they would not cover a sailing trip from Spain to the Caribbean (they had a yachting exclusion), despite it being the exact same trip as their 1492 namesake!

Date of experience : 16 August 2022

I was one of many affected by the…

I was one of many affected by the hurriedly re-arranged flights from Sicily in July. I thought my policy covered curtailment for what the travel company described as an emergency. It did not. I assumed that cover for curtailment meant curtailment for all emergencies. Unfortunately it does not. I accept the onus is on the customer to read the policy conditions carefully, though for an issue as fundamental as the issue of curtailment, I think the onus should be on the insurers to make absolutely clear that curtailment emergencies are only those relating to personal accident or ill health.

Date of experience : 24 July 2023

Very impressed

I recently took out travel insurance for a trip that involved a lot of “excursions”. As this is going to be a large part of my trip, Columbus (at no extra cost) agreed to remove the limit on excursions and cover up to the full cancellation amount. They were quick to respond via Twitter and even endorsed the policy documents to indicate what had been agreed. Very pleased with the service received.

Date of experience : 13 April 2023

Columbus Disaster

Needed to make a claim for not travelling due to Covid positive. Spoke with customer service adviser who rudely told me that our policy had expired after 10 years of auto-renewal because 1. The card had expired and 2. it didn't go through. They say they sent an email. We did not receive it. So now we are insurance-less and out of pocket! Explained why would we cancel after 10 years. Woman repeatedly just said we sent you an email even tho the claims team said regardless to process the claim!!! RUBBISH! Happy to take money for all the years and now conveniently its expired!!!

Date of experience : 23 October 2023

I had travel insurance from Columbus Direct

I had travel insurance from Columbus Direct over the years for multiple trips including backpacking, single trip, annual cover. I have never had any problem with claim submission or to contact them- even when abroad and requested to call me back. They were so kind that even when contacted on one occasion, they advised me to attend hospital and they followed this up with a courtesy email few days after to check on me. Each time I followed my policy therefore I had no nasty suprises. I am giving a 5 star review as this year unfortunately I had to use my insurance for reimbursement of medical cost when in Bolivia which grew quickly following surgery. I claimed everything back and all costs were reimbursed after providing all documentation. The claim process was okay, lasted few weeks.

Date of experience : 31 January 2023

Absolutely fantastic

We bought the travel insurance because it was relatively cheap, but what really matters is when you need to use it. These guys were there for us when we needed it, talked to us when when we needed help, they tried to pay the hospital bills in advance - but I'd already put the credit card across to sort the little one out, they simply said "send us the receipts". We did just that when we got home & got the payment within hours. I will go nowhere else.

Date of experience : 29 August 2022

Why would they even sell me cover for…

Why would they even sell me cover for only France if I need full Europe cover for my visa? So frustrating Edit - I'm grateful for my response from the Columbus Direct and their ability to upgrade my France cover to EU quickly over the phone while I was at the airport. To answer their question - their website should somehow be able to advise purchasers that buying cover for just France will not be adequate for a Shenghan visa for travelling purposes and that EU cover is in fact the correct option to select.

Date of experience : 01 December 2022

Hi Devon. We're not sure what we could have done differently here? You purchased the policy online so we would have issued cover based on the information you supplied during the application process. If you had indicated you required cover for all of Europe at the time, then that's what we would have issued. We also note that you have subsequently contacted us and changed this from 'France' to 'Europe' and that there was no difference in price for this.

Claim avoidance

Communication quite poor. Any queries while overseas must be made to a UK phone number. There is no option to make contact through WhatsApp or email, despite the info pack saying email is an option. Presumably this is to reduce the number of people calling, and therefore reduce the number of claims.

Date of experience : 18 August 2022

Hi Matt. It is not uncommon for the 24 hour medical emergency service on travel insurance policies to be linked to a UK only number. It's been operating like this for many years and there is no intention to make it difficult for customers to call in. We allow customer to claim back the telephone charges incurred when they first contact us, this is on the basis that our assistance service should then be proactively updating customers so there should be no need to incur further costs. It would be fair to say that companies haven't necessarily moved with the times quickly enough as technology has developed.

Bought Columbus Direct travel insurance…

Bought Columbus Direct travel insurance on Saturday 18th March 2023, promised documents within minutes, Sunday nothing, Monday nothing. Tuesday, today contacted Columbus Direct via their website Bot. Over approx an hour, three times they said they have emailed my documents ... not a sausage. So after an hour or so I told their Bot I am cancelling my policy ... within a minute I received a cancelling email .... WHY and what was that all about?

Date of experience : 21 March 2023

We're very sorry to hear that you had this poor experience. If you were using a webmail account such as Hotmail then your policy documents may have been sent to your spam/junk folder. We are constantly working to try to avoid this but because of the policy attachments, this can sometimes be diverted. We do have a live chat function on the website where you would be talking to an agent, not a bot. We would hope that they would have suggested checking your spam folder and if still no joy, suggesting we try a different email address. If this didn't happen, we apologise. We understand why you would have asked for the policy to be cancelled after not receiving your policy documents. As you were talking to an agent, when you requested this, it would have been appropriate for them to take immediate action and it sounds like this email came through, which is what we would have expected with the other emails. We've asked you for details so that we can investigate what actually happened here to see if we could have done anything differently.

Great insurers - provide you don't make a claim (REVISED)

In March 2023 I filed a claim and waited for the "within 5 days" response. I waited a month. I then filled in several request forms and spoke to staff via the internet Chat feature. Got the same automated email response telling me to await contact within 5 days or to phone customer support or use the Chat feature. I tried the phone which advised me to use the Chat feature or wait to speak to a staff member. I tried twice - waiting on line over 30 minutes. No one answered. It's now May and I'm still waiting for human contact. UPDATE: Following my review, Columbus made contact with me and processed my claim ASAP. Evidently it was a one-off system error and not indicative of their usual performance. The lesson learned is to complain early if performance is poor.

Date of experience : 25 May 2023

Thank you for your comments, we are disappointed with the service you have had. We understand that our claims team have now been in touch to agree settlement of the claim. We have looked into what happened here. When the claim was set up online, our system failed to create the task which would have put the case in the queue for assessment. This did not come to light until you contacted us and we had determined your claim had been affected by this system error. There were some issues at that time which have been fixed, but we apologise that you were impacted by this and it was not recognised sooner that your claim had not been managed.

No compensation for cancelled flight

My flight had got cancelled due to the airline having a supply issue. The flight was due out late evening and there was no more flights that evening. I was travelling with 3 children by myself and had to rebook my own flights the next day. I made a claim to Columbus Direct and provided the information requested only to be told that the reason of the airline not having a plane was not covered in the policy and was therefore not due any compensation!! Utterly disgraceful and disappointed. Will not be using them again.

Date of experience : 28 July 2023

Hi Danielle. Thank you for sharing your experience. In respect of cancellation and travel delay, we aim to provide cover where customers are unable to recover money from elsewhere. For example, if you had to cancel due to ill health, then you would not have been able to get your money back from anywhere else, so the travel insurance cover would have been available to you. Here, the airline have not provided the service they were supposed to provide due to their own issues. They are therefore responsible for ensuring that you arrive at your destination and would be required to pay you compensation. In that instance, the travel insurance does not need to provide cover as the airline have a duty of care towards you. It is possible that other travel insurance policies may have cover that would have provided some compensation in circumstances like this, but most policies would act the same way, which is to limit cover when the airline are responsible for cancellation as they are responsible for your costs.

5 Stars! Definitely 5 stars. And not because of the easiness of getting insurance but, but for the fact that they actually helped me out when I needed to cover my medical emergency bills in my trip to Egypt. No hassles or making hard, they paid the hospital bills straight away.

Date of experience : 26 June 2022

Really good insurance company

Really good insurance company; our flight got delayed 4 hours and we were easily able to access the lounges for free and we’re comfortable. Had no other issues on our holiday however would fully book with them again

Date of experience : 24 August 2022

Need a 24 helpline for contact in emergency.

Renewal was fine but when we needed to contact Columbus during an emergency on our last holiday, the lack of a 24 hour helpline meant we could not consult or get advice. Luckily, Travel Company stepped in but it should have been an insurance matter.

Date of experience : 02 July 2022

Hi Mike. Thanks for your feedback. We do operate a 24/7 medical emergency services line to assist customers if they require medical treatment whilst overseas. For non-medical emergencies, the cost of operating a 24 hour service would be expensive and this would be reflected in the cost of policies. As this is not generally something other insurance providers do, we have to balance the cost of services that would be used sparingly versus making our premiums reasonable for customers.

Appalling. Took out silver cover with cancellation cover up to £3000. Our flights were cancelled due to a fire at Catania airport. Apparently we weren’t covered for this type of cancellation, so they make sure they don’t pay out due to the small print. What’s the point in insurance if it doesn’t cover you when needed?? We ended up having to travel to a different airport for a flight home 2 days later, all in a heatwave with children. Travel insurance that doesn’t cover you really adds to the stress in these situations!! WILL NOT BE USING AGAIN. AVOID!!!!

Always use Columbus Direct for my holiday Insurance

Always use Columbus Direct for my holidays. Great insurance cover, flexible and good prices. I had to claim with them once and it was no problem and that is an important point when you pick holiday cover. This time I went for yearly insurance and again a quick look at the competition Columbus were still the best. Would not go anywhere else.

Date of experience : 01 November 2022

CUSTOMER SERVICE APPALLING AVOID

As an ex overseas representative I know the importance of travel insurance but this bunch of cowboys are rude unhelpful taking months don't answer emails it's daylight robbery they state 5 days laughable!!!!!! Left stranded for 3 days with two disabled children AVOID these robbing gits!! Read the rest of claim complaints, 100% of claims say avoid

Date of experience : 17 November 2022

Thank you for sharing your experience. We are sorry to hear that you are unhappy with the way we have dealt with this matter since you first logged your claim online on the 29th October. We note your claim was auto-declined based on the information supplied at the time of creating the claim. Given the subsequent correspondence provided by you our claims team had already reopened the case and asked for additional information which is under review now. Given your previous expression of dissatisfaction over the handling of the matter, a complaint had also been set up for us to conduct a review of what has happened on this case and will provide relevant feedback to you.

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• Columbus Insurance

Let's face it, travel insurance it isn't the most exciting part of planning your trip but it is one of the most important. That's why we've teamed up with Columbus Direct to bring you comprehensive travel insurance that's great value, easy to understand and of the highest quality. You can choose from annual or single trip travel insurance for you and your family and remember - kids go absolutely free. Choose your great value travel insurance below and get and instant quote for immediate cover.

• Single Trip Holiday Insurance from £9.95 Quote Now
• Annual Holiday Insurance from £45.00 Quote Now
• Ski Holiday Insurance from £15.00 Quote Now
• Backpacker Holiday Insurance from £32.02 Quote Now

Premium correct of 12/09/08 Travel insurance from Columbus Direct combines great value with comprehensive cover. You are covered for lost or delayed luggage, lost cash, passport and other personal documents plus emergency dental treatment and £5 million medical cover - and much more. This means you can enjoy your holiday, knowing that you and your family are fully protected in case anything goes wrong.

Do you live outside the UK? If you are not a UK resident but still need travel insurance, visit Columbus Direct International .

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I'm a financial planner, and I'd recommend annual travel insurance to anyone who loves to travel abroad

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

• Frequent and spontaneous travelers will likely benefit from annual travel insurance policies.
• Your credit card may come with some travel protections, but it may not be enough.
• When choosing a policy, look at what it covers, not just what's cheapest.

Summer is just a few months away — and if you're planning a vacation this year, the last thing you want is an unexpected event to derail your plans (and cost you hundreds).

Flights get delayed or canceled constantly. Luggage disappears into the ether. Medical emergencies occur in remote destinations. Yet many jetsetters simply cross their fingers and hope for the best rather than prepare for the worst.

That's why, as a financial planner, I believe it's crucial to consider protecting your trips with the right insurance coverage. One option often overlooked, particularly by frequent travelers, is annual travel insurance .

Annual travel insurance covers all your trips within 365 days. Unlike stand-alone travel insurance, which only covers you for a specific trip, an annual policy covers any trips you take within the year.

That's why I tell clients who travel frequently that an annual policy is a good choice for their needs. By opting for an annual plan, you don't have to go through the hassle of booking multiple policies and potentially save money compared to purchasing individual trip coverage. Here's how it works.

What to look for in a policy

While specifics may vary depending on the insurer and plan tier, most include the following key benefits:

• Trip cancellations or interruptions: You may be able to get reimbursed for expenses (even nonrefundable ones!) related to an illness, injury, or natural disaster that forced you to cancel or cut your trip short.
• Emergency medical and dental care: If you fall ill or get injured while traveling, your insurance can help cover the cost of medical treatment.
• Emergency evacuation: In a serious medical emergency or security situation, your policy will arrange and pay for transportation to a hospital or back to your home country.
• Lost, delayed, or damaged baggage: If your luggage is lost, delayed, or damaged during your trip, you can get financial coverage for essential items while you wait for your stuff to be recovered or replaced.
• Trip delays and missed connections: When your travel plans are disrupted due to issues like mechanical problems or severe weather, you may get reimbursement for additional expenses incurred, like meals, lodging, and transportation.

It's important to note that annual travel insurance plans have limitations. Certain high-risk activities, pre-existing medical conditions, and travel to specific regions may be restricted or require additional coverage.

Some travelers may assume that their credit card's built-in travel protections are enough. While many travel rewards credit cards offer perks like rental car insurance, trip cancellation, and baggage reimbursement, the coverage limits are often much lower than a dedicated annual travel insurance plan.

Credit card coverage for emergency medical care is also particularly limited — capped at a few thousand dollars — which may not be enough in the face of a major international medical emergency.

How much travel justifies an annual plan?

For the occasional traveler who takes one or two trips a year, single-trip policies will probably work for you. But if you fall into any of these buckets, you may want to consider an annual policy:

• Regular international travelers (three or more trips abroad yearly)
• Road warriors frequently away for work
• Adventurers engaging in high-risk activities like heli-skiing, scuba diving, or mountain climbing
• Cruisers and tour group travelers
• Students or retirees taking extended trips throughout the year
• Those visiting developing countries with limited medical care

Annual plans cover all of your trips within a 365-day period after purchasing. They're basically a bundle of multiple policies into one package deal. This means you only have to buy one policy to manage, locking in your coverage for the year.

How to decide if an annual policy makes sense for you

Start by reviewing your travel plans this year — and your risk tolerance. Calculate how much buying individual travel insurance policies would cost you over the next year and compare it to the price of an annual plan.

Don't just focus on the premium — carefully evaluate coverage limits, exclusions, and deductibles to ensure you have enough protection for your needs.

An annual policy gives you the flexibility to take spontaneous trips without the hassle of obtaining last-minute insurance. More importantly, it provides peace of mind, knowing that you're covered for a wide range of travel disruptions and emergencies.

As the busy summer travel season ramps up, definitely explore protecting your trips with insurance, especially if you're jetting off internationally. Spending hours on the phone trying to rebook canceled flights or worrying about affording an overseas medical emergency is no way to vacation.

• Main content

The Ohio State football 2024 spring game is here. Follow along for live updates, stats

The Ohio State football spring schedule is coming to a close.

After 14 spring practices at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, the Buckeyes will take the field at Ohio Stadium for their annual spring game . Ohio State will open the 2024 fall season against Akron Aug. 31 at Ohio Stadium.

After ending the 2023 season with back-to-back losses to Michigan and Missouri , the Buckeyes will take the field with additions including five-star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith , Kansas State transfer quarterback Will Howard , Mississippi transfer running back Quinshon Judkins and Alabama transfer safety Caleb Downs .

OSU spring game fan guide: Going to Ohio State football 2024 spring game? What to know before you go

How to watch OSU spring game: What channel is the Ohio State spring game on? Time, TV channel for 2024 OSU spring game

Ohio State will also play without players such as wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and defensive lineman Michael Hall Jr. who have each entered the 2024 NFL draft.

Follow along for updates from Ohio Stadium during the 2024 Ohio State spring game.

When is the Ohio State spring game?

Kickoff:  12 p.m., April 13; Ohio Stadium

Ohio State spring game TV schedule

The Ohio State spring game is heading to network TV.

Ohio State will have its spring game broadcast on Fox at noon April 13. Fox will also air Michigan football's spring game at noon April 20.

Who is calling the OSU spring game?

Urban Meyer will be back at Ohio Stadium for the OSU spring game.

Here's who is on the call for Fox:

• Jason Benetti (play-by-play)
• Urban Meyer (commentary)
• Brady Quinn (commentary)
• Jenny Taft (sideline)
• Joel Klatt (sideline)

Ohio State spring game streaming information

The game will be available on any platform that offers Fox such as YouTubeTV, Hulu Live and Fubo TV, which  offers a free trial.

The game will also be available on the Fox Sports app.

Will the Ohio State spring game be broadcast on the radio?

The game will be carried on the Ohio State Sports Radio Network on WBNS-FM/AM (97.1/1460).

Here's who will be on the call:

• Paul Keels (play-by-play)
• Jim Lachey (commentary)

OSU football schedule 2024

• Aug. 31: Ohio State vs. Akron; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Sept. 7: Ohio State vs. Western Michigan; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Sept. 21: Ohio State vs. Marshall; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Sept. 28: Ohio State at Michigan State; Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
• Oct. 5: Ohio State vs. Iowa; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Oct. 12: Ohio State at Oregon; Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon
• Oct. 26: Ohio State vs. Nebraska; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Nov. 2: Ohio State at Penn State; Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania
• Nov. 9: Ohio State vs. Purdue; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Nov. 16: Ohio State at Northwestern
• Nov. 23: Ohio State vs. Indiana; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Nov. 30: Ohio State vs. Michigan; Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts

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