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Compare winter sports and ski travel insurance
Compare travel insurance policies that cover you when you take part in winter sports.
- Choose your extras
- Get quotes in under five minutes
- Compare winter sports travel insurance from leading providers
Compare winter sports travel insurance from leading providers
Looking through a range of options gives you more chance of securing a great deal. You'll only find results from genuine companies. Our data experts check each company before we add them to our comparisons.
How to compare travel insurance for winter sports
1
Enter your details
Let us know what you need so that we can find our best winter sports travel cover policies for your trip. Declare any medical conditions and also please ensure to add the appropriate extras such as extreme or winter sports cover.
2
Compare your options
Have a look through the options as cost can vary significantly between providers. The cheapest travel insurance option might catch your eye however check the terms to ensure you're fully protected if you need to make a claim.
3
Apply and save
Many insurers offer discounts for applying online, while some only ever operate digitally, so to make sure you find the best travel insurance deals comparing quotes on the internet is a must. Once you've decided on the provider you want, simply apply.
What is winter sports and ski travel insurance?
It’s a special kind of insurance that recognises the increased risk of injury people face while participating in winter sports and activities, such as skiing and snowboarding.
Standard travel insurance won’t cover you for winter activities – not even a sleigh ride in Lapland! – but ski insurance includes extras to protect you from the risks linked to winter sports while also providing cover for all the same things as regular travel insurance.
What’s included in the best travel insurance with winter sports?
If you choose a winter sports insurance policy, it’s likely to cover you when:
skiing (including cross country)
snowboarding
ice skating
sledging or tobogganing
snowmobiling
dog sledding (including husky rides)
sleigh rides
glacier walking
ice fishing
Check the policy carefully against your plans and talk to your insurer if anything is missing. Activities such as ice hockey, ski jumping or bobsleighing aren’t usually include
What does the best ski travel insurance protect you against?
Ski travel insurance tends to cover you for the activities listed above. You may also get cover for:
Medical treatment
Unlike regular travel insurance, winter sports travel insurance will cover you if you’re injured or taken ill while participating in activities, such as skiing and snowboarding.
Your equipment
This protects against accidental loss, theft and damage, of your winter gear. Ensure you take out a policy which covers the value of everything you take or hire.
Piste closure
This pays for your transport costs to another site if you’re unable to ski at your resort. If no alternatives are available, you’ll be compensated for each day you can’t ski.
Your ski pack
This cover compensates you if you can’t use things you’ve paid for because of illness or injury, such as your ski or lift pass, ski lessons and hired equipment.
Alternative equipment
If your luggage gets lost during your outbound journey, your insurer will pay for you to get alternative gear.
Personal liability
Personal liability cover pays out if you inadvertently injure someone during your trip who then sues you.
Repatriation
This cover will return you to the UK at the insurer’s expense if you become ill or injured and unable to travel in the usual way.
Avalanche delays
This will cover you if your activities are delayed by an avalanche. Typically this is paid on a daily basis with a maximum limit.
Find out more about what winter sports cover protects you against here.
Can I get winter sports travel insurance even if I’ve got a pre-existing medical condition?
Some insurers will still offer you insurance if you have a pre-existing medical condition. You’re likely to have to pay more if you want to have these conditions covered.
Others will still offer insurance, but they won’t cover your pre-existing conditions.
Do I still need insurance even if I have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)?
It’s certainly worth considering. The EHIC (and its successor, the UK Global Health Insurance Card, or UK GHIC) is excellent, but we’d recommend combining that with the best ski insurance for your needs.
With the UK GHIC or UK EHIC, you can access essential state-provided healthcare in the same way as a local resident would. This might mean it’s free or available at a reduced price.
However, even with this, the costs of medical treatment can still be extremely high. Plus, there are things the UK GHIC won’t cover you for, such as private hospital treatment, repatriation and mountain rescues. Insurance provides important extra protection so you can be sure you won’t have to pay more than your excess even if the worst happens.
Remember that a UK GHIC also doesn’t cover you for any of the other things that you get with the best ski insurance policies. For example, you’re not covered for lost luggage cover or piste closure.
How can I get the best ski insurance for winter holidays?
As with all insurance, get quotes from multiple providers to determine the most affordable policy that meets your needs. Consider the following:
Do they cover all sports?
Make sure all your chosen sports are included. If not, ask your insurer to add them individually.
Try an extreme sports package
Alternatively, you could look at adding an adventure sports package to the policy when you get a quote.
Verify the policy’s limits
Before taking out a policy, make sure medical expenses, cancellation and lost baggage are covered and that the limits and exclusions meet your needs.
Compare providers and prices
When comparing quotes make sure your chosen policy covers everything you need at the best possible price.
Pre-existing medical conditions
You can still get a quote through money.co.uk if you have a pre-existing condition, including cancer or severe heart or respiratory complaints. People who have had strokes or are terminally ill can also get a quote.
Some insurers might not cover you if you already have a severe medical disorder or a number of conditions, and others may only offer insurance at a much higher price. If you’re unable to find suitable cover, talk to the Money and Pension Service (MaPS). It has a directory of insurers willing to cover customers with pre-existing medical conditions.
You can contact the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) through its website or telephone the team on 0800 138 7777.
Winter sports travel insurance FAQs
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Last updated: 14 April, 2022