Columbus Direct launches D2C income protection

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Columbus Direct has launched a direct to consumer income protection policy.

The policy will offer accident, sickness and unemployment cover, with customers able to opt for just accident and sickness or unemployment cover for six or twelve months.

Customers will be able to buy it direct and through MoneySupermarket's income protection panel.

The maximum amount covered will be £2,500 per month and with a 90 day exclusion period for unemployment claims.

The unemployment clause does not include exclusions for dismissal, misconduct or missed sales targets.

Cover is also available for bereavement and carers, as well as chronic conditions, stress and back conditions.

Customers transferring from another insurer will not have to have an exclusion period for unemployment insurance if their policy has been active for 90 days.

Rob Thomas, head of brand and acquisition at Columbus Direct, said: "We decided to come back into the market as Columbus' strategy has moved to become a multi-line insurance provider rather than just a travel insurance specialist."

Thomas described it as a "natural product to bring back", he added: "A lot of the banks and building societies withdrew this sort of cover within mortgage and income protection, some still sell it, their rates tend to be reasonably high for the type of cover we're offering."

He said: "There's probably not anything within any of these policies nowadays which you can say is totally unique, but the package together makes it standout."

Thomas said: "If your mobile phone company could save you £20 a month you'd want to know about it, for us that's a key thing, people too often take what their bank, building society or other high street lender offers them without considering all the other options in the market."

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