We're All Going On A Winter Holiday
It's vital to take out the right travel insurance before you slink off to the slopes.
For adventurers and novices alike, winter is the ideal time to get away and enjoy the snow. But whether it is a traditional ski holiday or a more specialised winter sport that tickles your fancy, it's vital to take out the right travel insurance before you slink off to the slopes.
Recent research by esure found that one in four Brits ski without travel insurance, with a similar number (27%) falsely believing that all travel insurance policies cover ski holidays as standard.
And even though one in seven of us end up seeking medical care during our skiing holiday, a quarter of Brits will take to the pistes with no travel insurance at all.
So what measures can you take to ensure you're adequately covered for your ski holiday?
Insurance... for free!
The first step is to make sure you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles you to free or subsidised medical costs in any European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland.
You can apply online, over the telephone (0845 606 2030) or at the Post Office. However, the EHIC only covers basic medical costs, and won't pay for extras such as repatriation costs or an air ambulance. With repatriation costs ranging from around £4,000 in Europe to £35,000 in places like America, it's always wise to take out private medical insurance to cover you where the EHIC won't.
However, in some cases, even when you think you are covered through an existing travel insurance policy (such as the cover included with your bank account or your annual policy), when it comes to winter sports, there are a whole new range of factors you must consider.
Minimum cover
For winter sports, the Fool recommends:
Type Minimum Cover
Medical
£2,000,000
Personal Liability
£1,000,000
Cancellation
£3,000
Baggage
£1,500
Tedious as it may be, you must also make sure you read the small print, as there are often restrictions for activities such as off-piste skiing. Check with your insurer before booking activities such as para-skiing, ski-jumping and bobsleighing, as well as whether your ski equipment (both owned and hired) is insured for loss or damage.
Some insurers are willing to cover you for extreme winter sports activities if you pay an additional premium, but this will excludes cover for personal accident or personal liability. So you will be covered for minor accidents (such as breaking an arm) or typical holiday mishaps (such as holiday cancellation or losing your skis), but if you die or incur a serious injury (such as loss of a limb) or harm someone else while participating in these winter sports, you will not be insured. For this reason, it is vital that you check with your insurer what exactly you are covered for.
Also check if you're covered for `no snow' conditions or piste closure. With last year's winter season producing very little snow for early skiers, many were left unable to ski due to slopes being too grassy. Researching compensation limits for scenarios such as these is well worth the time.
Really avid Fools should check out igluski.com which provides snow level reports that will give you an idea of whether you may need extra cover or not. Snow depths of less than 20 cm should set the alarm bells ringing.
Finally, make sure you take your insurance documents with you -- and in the event of an accident, contact your insurer immediately. When making a claim, it's important you keep all your receipts as evidence. Having these particulars with you is especially crucial when taking part in higher risk activities.
Bon Voyage!
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