Many skiers take to the slopes with inadequate insurance. This excellent article from Emma Simon in the the Telegraph explains what to look for.
Posted 25th November 2010
One million skiers and snowboarders will head to the slopes this winter without adequate insurance, according to a new survey, potentially leaving them facing costly medical bills.
Even in these more austere times, winter sports holidays remain popular and many people are now planning this year’s break. But according to the Ski Club of Great Britain, more than half of those heading for the slopes won’t bother with travel insurance. And of those who do have insurance, only a quarter will check the terms and conditions to ensure they are covered for winter sports activities.
Given the high rate of injuries on the slopes, you would think a comprehensive insurance policy would be seen as essential as ski googles and gloves. But, surprisingly, many people don’t bother with this insurance because they don’t think it would pay out in the event of an accident.
According to Axa, one of Britain’s largest travel insurers, in a recent survey of skiers and snowboarders, one in five (19pc) said they believed an insurance policy would not pay out for injuries and one in three did not believe cover would be provided for transport home if injured.
Needless to say, both of these events should be covered in full on a comprehensive winter sports holiday.
Much of the confusion may arise because of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
All holidaymakers travelling to Europe are advised to get one of these cards, as they cover some of the cost of medical treatment in Europe. But they are not an adequate substitute for insurance. For starters, they only offer up to 80pc off medical bills in hospitals that accept the card.
However, there is no guarantee that in the event of an accident you will end up in a hospital that participates in this scheme. Dr Tim Hammond, from medical assistance provider CEGA, said: “If you are injured on the slopes, resort pisteurs will probably take you straight to a private clinic, where the EHIC care will not cover your medical treatment.”
Even if you get to the equivalent of an NHS hospital, the “free” medical treatment available may be a lot less than what we are used to in Britain. The EHIC card won’t pay for any transportation costs either – either to hospital, or for repatriation back home. So while it makes sense to take one, it is also essential to buy comprehensive insurance.
This insurance should pay for most medical expenses incurred abroad, which will include those not covered by an EHIC card.
Skiing and snowboarding injuries are relatively common. The Association of Mountain Doctors in France said it dealt with 140,000 injuries last year; and according to the Axa survey, about a quarter of those who have been on a winter sports holiday have suffered some kind of injury – and the cost of treating these can soon escalate.
Many need evacuation from the slopes (which certainly wouldn’t be covered on an EHIC card), then there is the cost of any treatment, such as X-rays, operations, and in more serious cases, transport home.
For those holidaying in the ski resorts of Europe these costs can easily top £25,000 – and it is even higher for those needing medical treatment and flights home from America and Canada.
But what should you look for in a winter sports policy?
First off, check you are covered for these sports. Many people rely on an annual policy, which won’t necessarily cover these activities. If you already have an annual policy, it is worth contacting your insurer. Most will add on this cover, for a fee of course.
Check it covers your holiday destination. This may sound obvious, but some people buy winter sports cover, thinking this will cover them wherever they go skiing or snowboarding. But if you have European-only cover it’s obviously not going to cover you for skiing trips in Whistler or Aspen. People who simply renew an annual policy each year, without really checking what they have, could potentially fall into such traps.
Aside from the medical cover, you also want to make sure the policy has personal liability and legal expenses cover. This will cover your costs if someone injures you and you need to take legal action against them; likewise it will cover you if you are involved in a collision and someone wants to sue you.
Retired skiers should also check that their insurance still covers them, particularly if they have “free” insurance with either a bank account or credit card. Many of these only cover people up to the age of 60, for example.
Keen winter sports enthusiasts should ensure that their policy is tailored for all activities. Off-piste skiing, for example, may not be included, or only if you are with a registered guide. Likewise, there may be insurance restrictions on activities such as tobogganing, ski touring, glacier skiing, heli-skiing or even racing.
A spokeswoman for the Ski Club of Great Britain said: “Even if you are or your children are taking part in fun races with the resort’s ski school, these may not be covered. Many policies do not cover racing, not even recreational races.”
Other areas to check include whether there will be payouts for closed pistes, either as a result of high winds, too much or not enough snow.
A winter sports policy should also include cover for lost baggage, and cancellation and curtailment of your trip – as you would find on any standard travel policy.