Statistics show that approximately one in ten skiers is likely to suffer an injury whilst abroad on their skiing holiday that will require some form of medical treatment or hospitalisation, none of whom probably expected their trip to end in that way. Bills for mountain rescue, medical treatment, repatriation by air ambulance and potential third party liabilities can run in to thousands so it is important to ‘play it safe’ on the slopes at all times. Despite the fact that winter insurance is relatively inexpensive there are still those who are willing to take the gamble to save themselves about £40 for a weeks skiing holiday by travelling without insurance!
There are many winter insurance options available to the avid skier so it is important to ensure that you don’t cut corners and that all your activities are covered. In selecting winter insurance cover that is right for you, you should consider such things as:
Hazardous and Specialist insurance cover
Off-piste skiing
Carré Neige / Carte Neige insurance
If you are travelling in the winter it is likely that your standard insurance policy does not cover a skiing holiday or any form of winter sports. In most travel insurance policies, winter sports cover is usually an 'optional extra' even if it is a single or annual multi travel policies that is being discussed.
Over the past few years the popularity of adrenalin surging activities that one can take part in whilst on holiday has continually been on the increase and it is now not uncommon to find ice diving, snow mobiling, husky dog sledging, paragliding with skis, bobsleighing, heli-skiing, snow biking and ski racing as additional winter activites to enjoy in your chosen resort. Whilst nobody likes to think or talk of any of these activities having a nasty side effect, it is important before signing up to one of these physical challenges that you check your insurance policy wording as you may find they are NOT covered by your standard travel insurance policy. Often specialist travel insurance cover is necessary for the increased risks associated with this type of activity. A 'winter sports option' on your standard travel policy (annual or single trip) can assist in providing insurance for these types of activity in addition the cover will then include anything from regular skiing accidents, lift closures, poor weather to losing your lift pass and theft of your personal belongings. Although a standard insurance "no frills" policy will provide basic travel insurance requirements, the specific winter insurance policy will take into account the increased risk of injury and will also protect you against damage to your sports equipment. It is wise to make sure you read your travel insurance policy documents carefully and advise your insurer of your travel plans if you are not sure of your coverage limitations.
Recently, the British Foreign Office organised a campaign Know Before You Go, informing holidaymakers that ski slopes are among the five sites where travel-related injuries are most likely to occur. Furthermore, it was recently reported that up to 40 per cent of Britons on winter sports holidays are travelling without adequate travel insurance, and fewer than 50 per cent know if their annual policies cover the hazards which are likely to be experienced on a winter sports holiday. In completing their report, First Assist supplied the Foreign Office with the following ‘typical costs’ that can be associated with repatriation back to the UK after an accident in a foreign country:
£1,200-3,000 Air taxi (propeller driven light aircraft) – Northern France
£1,800-4,000 Scheduled flight, seated economy with a Doctor escort – Mediterranean
£100-£800 Scheduled flight, seated economy without an escort – Mediterranean
£3,000-£6,000 Scheduled flight, stretcher and Doctor escort – Mediterranean
It's NOT CHEAP if you have to fund it yourself because of a lack of insurance!
Hazardous Activities and Specialist Insurance Cover
If you are planning on undertaking some activities which may be deemed ‘hazardous’ then it is important to be aware that you may be required to purchased specialist policies in order to cover your ‘extreme’ sporting lifestyle.
You may not consider a skiing holiday, a mountain biking holiday or a leisurely trek in the Alps as particularly hazardous activity however you could find that in the event of a claim, your insurer points you to the small print of the policy which could potentially exclude these activities. Every policy is different. For example, we took a random sample of insurers and looked into their annual travel insurance cover (with winter sports option) here’s what we found:
Annual world wide travel insurance policies - hazardous activities coverage
The Guardian, July 25 2006 recently commented on a survey conducted by AXA insurance that found that a staggering one in six people who planned to take part in adventure activities whilst on holiday would not bother to take out travel insurance. Typical ‘adventures’ people were looking to do included cycling, trekking, mountaineering, canoeing, kayaking, horse riding, white water rafting and many more; all of which are sports common to the Alps.
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