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The fine print of winter sports insurance

Of the three million Britons taking off for the ski slopes this year, 25 per cent will neglect to buy any special insurance. An estimated one in seven of those three million skiers will require medical care at some point during their trip, highlighting the need for a winter sports travel insurance plan.

Standard travel insurance policies normally do not include winter sports injuries, and the European Health Insurance Card will not provide full cover. It can run up to £2,000 to be airlifted from the slopes in Europe, while medical treatment in the United States could cost many thousands of pounds.

Purchasing a separate winter sports policy is highly advisable, but travellers should be sure to read the fine print.

Extreme sports such as glacier skiing or off-piste skiing are often not covered in a regular winter sports cover plan, although upgrades may be possible.

Hayley Fowell, spokesperson for Post Office Financial Services, said there are several types of winter sports not covered by their policy: "We don't cover ski-racing, ski jumping, off-pist skiing unless accompanied by a qualified guide or instructor, ice hockey, bobsleighing, the use of skeletons or luges, freestyle skiing and competitive skiing."

Another grey area is weather conditions. Many policies will pay £20 to £30 per day for travel to another ski resort if yours closes down due to lack of snow. However, travellers should check their policy, because some insurers will only compensate between certain dates.

Skiers should be sure to always carry the details of their policy with them to avoid complications and mishaps if and when making a claim.

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Zoe Westof Editorial

27/12/2007