If you’re one of the thousands of people hitting the slopes this year, checking you’re covered by suitable travel insurance is essential - have an accident on the slopes without decent cover and you could end up paying for it.
Before you jet off to enjoy your skiing holiday you need to make sure your travel insurance is up to scratch or your holiday could end up costing you more than you bargained for.
Why are Skiing & Snowboarding policies different ?
Most travel insurance policies don’t cover winter sports as standard. This is due to the increased risk these activities represent and the huge costs of rescuing someone who is injured on the mountain side.
This is why you shouldn’t just go for the cheapest policy but look for the cover you need at the best available price – after all a cheap ski travel insurance policy isn’t worth the money if you’re not covered when you need to claim.
But what exactly are you paying the extra for? Here are the 8 things you need to make sure your travel insurance covers you for before you hit the slopes.
1. Winter sports
Some annual policies will include winter sports cover, but you shouldn’t just assume this is the case.
So the first and most important thing you should check is that your insurance will be valid while you are skiing or snowboarding.
Check your insurance terms and conditions under the listed dangerous or high risk activities for confirmation before you travel.
If you’re not already covered there are lots of dedicated ‘Winter Sports’ insurance policies on the market and most ordinary travel insurance policies will let you add winter sports for an extra fee.
This means that while you need to be careful that you’re adequately covered, you shouldn’t need to spend a fortune.
Use the Advanced Search on our winter sports insurance tables to compare the policies which include winter sports.
If you're already covered you should still check that everything you need is included in your policy so you're not caught short while you're away.
2. Medical cover
While not a unique feature of winter sports insurance, due to the increased risk of injury when you hit the slopes, the amount of medical cover your ski travel insurance policy offers is even more important
The cost of evacuating you from a mountain side and repatriating you to the UK if you have an accident can quickly run into the tens of thousands of pounds.
So, as a guide, around £2 million of medical cover is a good minimum to look for. However the total figure shouldn’t be your only concern; check that your policy covers the cost of mountain search & rescue as well as standard repatriation.
3. Legal/liability cover
An important part of any ski insurance policy is the legal cover it provides.
It’s important to remember that while you are on the slopes you could injure other skiers as well as yourself- so making sure that you have an adequate level of liability cover is of paramount importance.
If you injure another skier while on your holiday and don’t have sufficient cover you could end up facing substantial legal bills if they decide to sue.
4. Ski equipment
One of the main parts of winter sports cover relates to your ski equipment.
Whether you plan to hire or take your own skis or snowboards you should check that your policy will cover the cost of theft or damage of your equipment - both at your resort and in transit - and that the excess they apply is affordable.
5. Other activities
Sledging, tobogganing and luging can be great fun while you’re away, but not all winter sports insurance will include these extra activities in their cover - meaning if you’re injured while taking part, you could end up footing the bill.
If you want to enjoy these activities without risking your cover, check that your policy will include them before you travel.
6. Off-piste
Skiing or boarding off-piste can be exhilarating but again may not be covered by some of the cheaper winter sports insurance policies on the market.
The reason for this is again due to the greater risk associated with off-piste skiing; essentially you are more likely to get hurt if you stray from the marked slopes.
So if you are planning to go off-piste then making sure your insurance extends beyond the marked routes is essential.
7. Lift passes
One of the most expensive parts of a skiing holiday is the cost of your lift pass.
Most good winter sports will cover the cost of a replacement pass if yours is lost or stolen while you’re away.
However you should check that the amount they will pay and the excess fits your needs before you travel.
8. Piste closure
Arriving at your resort only to find that the slopes are closed can be extremely frustrating and costly if you opt to travel to another resort.
As a result many winter sports policies will compensate you for any days that your resort is closed due to events beyond your control such as adverse weather.
While not an essential policy feature you may want to check if piste closure is included in your policy.
This could be a feature that helps you choose between policies of a similar price.
EHIC card
Finally, once you have a suitable winter sports insurance policy sorted you should make sure you get an EHIC card if you are travelling within the EU.
While the EHIC card isn’t a suitable alternative to travel insurance it will make sure you are entitled to the same free medical treatment as the local citizens, may reduce the excess you have to pay if you make a medical claim and best of all is free of charge.
