Insurance is one of those boring things you stick on your ‘to-do’ list whilst planning the fun parts of your trip, but without cover you could find yourself saddled with expensive bills if something goes wrong. For example, if you were injured on the slopes, piste rescue in Europe costs around €500, and this increases to over €2,000 if you require helicopter rescue.
We’ve spoken to travel insurance experts at Holidaysafe.co.uk, who have put together the following checklist for purchasing quality winter sports travel insurance.
The Big Three
When it comes to travel insurance there are three main sections to pay special attention to, these are;
* You should always ensure that the amount for cancellation will cover the total cost of your trip. This will ensure your pre-paid trip costs are fully covered if you have to cancel at the last minute, and also ensure that you aren’t underinsured.
* A good policy should include at least £2million emergency medical cover and repatriation cover (aka getting you back to the UK) or £5million if travelling worldwide. This may seem excessive but medical treatment abroad can become extremely expensive, especially if you need to be airlifted from a mountain or complex treatment.
* Personal Possessions cover will usually protect your luggage against loss, theft, damage or delay. If you’re travelling with gadgets make sure they are covered under your home insurance, or double check your travel insurance policy (you may need to add an extension).
Winter Sports Specific Cover
* Many standard travel insurance policies won’t cover equipment as standard, so it is important to purchase a specialist winter policy or extension. Ensure owned and hired equipment are covered against loss, theft, damage and delay.
* Another important thing to check is cover for activities – most specialist winter policies will cover skiing and snowboarding as standard, but activities such as heli-skiing or skiing off piste may require the purchase of additional cover to remain protected.
* Other things to consider are whether the policy covers; piste rescue, piste closure (e.g. in the event of no snow), personal liability, ski packs and lift passes.
Ski patrol team rescue woman skier with broken arm
Other Things to Keep in Mind
* Make sure you have declared any existing medical conditions or recent treatment to your insurer, to ensure these are covered under your policy. That way you know that any flare ups or reoccurrences will be covered during your trip.
* Once you have purchased your policy, you will usually be given 14 days to read it through and check that it covers your particular needs – if not you’re entitled to a full refund, so always ensure you read the T&Cs carefully before you leave home.
If you’re in need of travel insurance Holidaysafe.co.uk are offering an exclusive 20%* discount to In the Snow readers, simply visit Holidaysafe.co.uk/winter and enter code ‘ITS1617’ to save on their specialist winter sports range.
*Please note, Holidaysafe’s online prices automatically include a 15% discount. This code gives you an extra 5% off, making a total saving of 20% online against their Call Centre prices.