It’s not always easy staying upright when you’re skiing. However experienced you may be there is always the chance that the next flashy but inept skier passing by could knock you off your skis. And if you’re hurt the costs could spoil more than just your holiday.
For one unlucky skier the cost of mending an injured knee in France was £18,000. For EU residents, medical treatment costs are free. But you may have to pay for overnight accommodation or emergency airlifts so insurance can be well worth it.
If you are skiing in the US then ski insurance is essential. If the above accident had occurred in the US, the price for medical treatment would have been more like £24,000. These are not the sort of bills anyone wants to come home to.
So whether you’ll be racing down couloirs or going very slowly down the slopes with one eye on the instructor, spend a few moments before leaving to check that you have adequate protection against any mishaps.
The good news is that there are so many travel insurance competitors eager to take your money that it is possible to tailor your cover.
More than 1m British skiers will venture on to the slopes this season, and according to Lloyds TSB Insurance, one in 10 of them will not buy insurance. This is in spite of the fact that one fifth of skiers said they have had an accident in the past.
James Harrison, chief executive of price-comparison website Insurancewide.com, says that a winter sports policy should include a minimum of £2m for medical expenses and £1m for personal liability. A good insurer will also provide compensation for loss of equipment, delays due to avalanches and piste closures because of adverse weather.
Weather and snow conditions are becoming an increasing problem in ski resorts, because, some say, of climate change. This year the skiing world cup was forced to cancel the first two stages of competition because of a lack of snow. Some insurers, such as Endsleigh and Insure & go, will pay for transport to another piste in such events, but many others will not.
One of the cheapest basic policies is the Primary Standard policy with winter sports from Primary Insurance which costs £16.89 for a week in Europe. For this you will be covered for ski equipment damage, piste closure, and ski pass loss as well as up to £10m for medical expenses, £3,000 for cancellation and £1,500 for baggage.
Exclusions vary from policy to policy. Pre-existing medical conditions are not covered but some providers have more eccentric exclusion policies.
Richard Mason from moneysupermarket.com says that standard policies often do not cover activities deemed unusual and dangerous such as heli-skiing, glacier skiing, bobsleighs and mountain climbing, so if you’re planning any of these check that your policy covers you.
Be wary of policies available from travel agents. They tend to be more expensive than standalone travel insurance and they are also not regulated by the FSA and are therefore under no regulatory obligation to honour claims. In such a scenario, your only course for claiming redress would be the courts.
The Treasury is examining whether this situation needs to be changed. Ed Balls, economic secretary to the Treasury, has launched a review of travel insurance to ensure that consumers are properly informed and not being missold products.
Many providers do not offer cover for accidents incurred while skiing off piste, generally regarded as more dangerous. Go Travel Insurance does, but check the fine print. The definition of off piste can vary considerably – from everywhere to only those areas advised as safe by local officers or only trips made with a qualified guide.
A policy including off piste skiing with Go Travel for seven days in Europe would cost £18.86. “We’ve always included off piste skiing as part of our general policy,” says Christian Young, chief executive. “A lot of policies are starting to exclude things like baggage cover. But we have one policy that covers everything we think skiers need, including the option to ski off piste.”
If you’re fond of a glass of glühwein or two then remember that standard policies such as Club Direct will not cover you for accidents, on or off the snow, if you’ve been drinking alcohol. Insure & Go provides policies that will cover for accidents sustained while drinking socially, but not drinking heavily.
One way to potentially save money is think about how much luggage you are taking. Many skiers now fly with bargain airlines that charge extra for more than one piece of luggage. If you take a small amount then you will not need excessive baggage cover. Moneysupermarket.com recommends looking for a policy with around £1,500 of baggage cover.
If you find all that fresh air and exercise too addictive to be satisfied with just one trip a year then consider taking out an annual policy.
Many insurers offer annual travel insurance policies, but some, such as Endsleigh, have a winter sports period built in. This means winter sports coverage is only valid for specific lengths of time. A £25 comprehensive annual policy from Endsleigh covers you for trips to Europe all year including 10 days of winter sports.
At ski-insurance.co.uk an annual policy will cover you for 17 days skiing in Europe for £47.48. “Our standard cover for annual policies also provides more cover than the standard single policy,” says manager Chris Hollingsworth. “The policy provides full cover for medical attention, airlifts, repatriation, cover of equipment and holiday cancellation.”
For ski loving families, Marcus Hearn, the insurance broker, has an online-only policy which might prove cost effective. The Cover-All plan provides annual winter sports travel insurance for parents and any number of children, worldwide, for as many trips as you take up to 31 days on each trip.
The policy cost is worked out on the age of the oldest family member and ranges from £68.85 for under-35 to £89.10 for 56 and over. The family is then covered for cancellation, departure delay, legal advice, medical, accident and baggage loss.
The compensation levels however, are similar to individual policy rates. Jeffrey Klipp at Marcus Hearn says that even three or four claims on one holiday will rarely hit the compensation cap. A cancelled trip will get you £3,000, and medical expenses will be paid out up to £5m.
Finally if travelling to a European resort don’t forget to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before you go. Many insurers insist these are held before they will insure you. The cards ensure free emergency medical treatment. You can apply for a free card at the Post Office or online at www.ehic.org.uk.
