WINTER SPORTS INSURANCE MADE SIMPLE Working with the profession to simplify the language of insurance

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UNDERSTANDING YOUR WINTER SPORTS INSURANCE Skiing and snowboarding holidays are a popular choice with around one million Brits heading off to the slopes each season, according to the travel association ABTA.

Take cover before you slope off! With the average skiing or snowboarding trip costing around £1,500, the last thing you need is a huge bill on top if you injure yourself or your ski equipment is stolen – or for you to be out of pocket if you need to cancel your trip. A winter sports insurance policy is the answer.

£1.5k

Is the average cost of a winter sports holiday

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What is winter sports insurance? It's similar to the travel insurance you take out for your summer getaway but additionally – and most importantly – it is designed to cover the risks associated with winter sports which are excluded from a standard travel policy – including your medical bills for injury or accidents related to winter sports activities, such as skiing and snowboarding. A winter sports policy usually – but not always – costs more than basic travel insurance as winter activities are considered more dangerous than lying on a beach soaking up the sun.

Don't under insure Worryingly around a third (31%) of people believe a standard travel policy will cover them for sports-related injuries (ABI). This can be a very expensive mistake. An on-piste injury could dwarf the cost of the holiday. You'd be looking at a bill of over £9,400 if you fractured your vertebrae skiing in France and had to be airlifted from a mountain to hospital and then flown home to the UK. And an eye-watering £18,220 bill for medical treatment and repatriation if you broke your leg snowboarding in the USA (ABI). Unless you have deep pockets, winter sports insurance is a must. askciindy.com

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What else does it cover? Insurance isn't just for when you injure yourself. All the cover provided in a standard travel policy is included, such as the cost of medical emergencies if you become ill; personal liability cover if you injure someone else or damage their property; loss of or theft of baggage, personal possessions and money; the cost of having to cancel or cut short your trip. In addition a specialist winter sports policy covers you for accidental damage to, theft or loss of your equipment. Different providers offer different limits, so make sure you buy enough cover for your pricey Burton snowboard or Oakley goggles to be covered. In addition, many policies cover reimbursement of fees for lessons and lift passes if you are injured and unable to ski and loss of or damage to hired ski or snowboard equipment. Some also cover the cost for transfer to an alternative resort because of lack of snow. And conversely, if the weather takes a turn for the worst, winter sports cover could also pay out for piste closure due to too much snow or avalanche.

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Ski cover could also pay out for piste closure due to too much snow

How much cover

Medical

Useful extras

As for any type of travel insurance, you should look for a policy with minimum cover of £2m medical expenses (for Europe) or ideally £5m (worldwide), and £1m personal liability, which is required if you cause injury to someone else and they sue you, £3,000 for cancellation, £1,500 for lost baggage and belongings and £250 for cash (source Moneysupermarket).

Medical cover should include mountain rescue, if you have an accident and are too badly hurt to get off the slope under your own steam, and repatriation to the UK.

Check for useful extras such as lost, stolen or unused ski passes; theft or loss of your hired equipment and cover to transfer you to another resort if there is not enough snow at yours.

But in addition, make sure that you check that the limits for the specific winter sports extensions are adequate for your needs. The cover provided by different insurers for your equipment can vary from a few hundred to several thousand pounds – so choose wisely.

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Refunds Check if cover includes refunding pre-paid expenses such as your ski pass, ski and boot hire and lessons if you have to cancel your holiday or injury prevents you from skiing or snowboarding.

Immediate cover You should take out cover the moment you book your holiday in case you have to cancel.

Am I covered already?

Shop around

If you have an annual travel policy... this will cover all your foreign travel for a whole year and some policies include winter sports cover, typically for up to 17 or 21 days… but many don’t.

• You do not have to buy travel insurance from the travel agent or tour operator who arranged your trip.

If you are a skier or snowboarder check if your annual policy covers you for winter sports to save buying separate insurance – even if cover isn’t provided automatically it may be possible to buy an extension to cover. Don’t forget to check the detail of the cover provided, such as limits and exclusions. An annual policy is a good choice if you travel a lot and you like to know you are covered for spur-of-the-moment trips. If you travel very rarely, just go for a single option each time ensuring you buy insurance at the same time as booking your holiday.

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• Consider looking at internet comparison sites for winter sports insurance. • You can also get quotes from specialist winter sports intermediaries and insurers. • Don't just opt for the cheapest deal. Naturally, you need to find the best price, but you also have to be careful that the policy you get covers all your needs. Make sure the policy you opt for is good value as opposed to cheap, that it covers everything you need and does it at the lowest rate. Good value is about more than price alone.

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What to be aware of • Make sure you have notified the company of any pre-existing medical conditions. It may cost more than a standard policy but worth it if something goes awry.

A number of high profile accidents on the slopes have resulted in more skiers wearing helmets.

• Most insurers impose upper age limits on winter sports cover. However some specialist insurers are more than happy to insure older people heading off to the slopes. • If you plan on taking part in other snow-related activities such as sledging, ice climbing or ski touring, you should not assume you're automatically covered. However some specialist providers will happily cover you, so shop around. • Some dangerous or risky behaviour may invalidate your insurance. Not wearing a helmet, skiing off piste without a qualified instructor or if you're drunk or under the influence of drugs could leave you without cover and facing expensive medical bills. Also you won't be covered if you ski against advice.

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Don't forget your EHIC

How to claim

When holidaying in EU countries, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, always take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which entitles you to state-provided emergency care and is available free from ehic.org.uk (beware of rogue websites that encourage you to pay an application fee).

• Take a copy of your policy and any helpline number with you when you are on holiday so that you can check what to do when faced with a holiday mishap.

However the EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance. In some countries it will only provide you with treatment at reduced cost rather than for free… and an EHIC won't rescue you from a mountain top or fund repatriation home – for this you need a valid winter sports insurance policy.

• If you fail to take the action outlined in the policy guidelines, your claim may be rejected. • If something happens, call your insurer and get advice from them before paying for anything. • Do not throw away any receipts or evidence that may be needed. • If you lose belongings or suspect they have been stolen, you must report the loss to the local police within 24 hours of discovering the loss and get hold of written evidence from the police that you did this. • Most policies will have an emergency number to call if you have to be admitted to hospital because of illness or accident and it may be a condition of meeting your claim that you use the emergency number. • Waiting until you get home is not a good idea since it may be too late to do what is required.

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• If your claim is for less than the excess given in the policy, there is no point claiming.

Remember if you have any questions about winter sports insurance, just ask me, Ciindy at askciindy.com

askciindy.com @askciindy /AskCiindy