Heading for the slopes? Read the insurance small print!

COMPARISON website PayingTooMuch.com has published a list ‘watch-outs’ if you’re heading to the slopes this winter, so skiers don’t caught out by travel insurance small-print.

Check the insurer’s definition of ‘ski equipment’. When purchasing winter sports insurance, check the insurer’s definition of ‘ski equipment’ in the terms and conditions. Commonly, this will include only skis, snowboards, bindings, boots, and poles. Many snow-seekers might not realise they aren’t covered for loss, damage or theft of other expensive items, including ski clothing and accessories such as helmets, goggles, and gloves.

Make sure the policy covers you for winter sports activities. While it may sound obvious, don’t just head off to the snow hoping your annual travel insurance policy will suffice. Make sure the policy covers you for winter sports activities, as these will not be covered on standard travel insurance policies.

Check the total number of days the winter sports policy covers you for. It’s not uncommon for insurers to limit travellers to just 17 days of winter sports cover per year, so if you’re planning on playing on the slopes for the whole season or going twice in one year, make sure your policy covers you for this.

Wear a helmet or beware. When skiing or snowboarding, always adhere to your insurer’s guidelines in case you need to make a claim. For example, most insurers insist you wear a helmet during winter sports activities. Failure to do so in the event of a claim, could see your policy fail to pay out.

Going off-piste? Check your insurer’s limitations. Most standard travel insurance policies will not cover skiing or snowboarding off-piste unless with a qualified guide or instructor, although each insurer’s definition of off-piste varies. Most insurers define it as ‘within resort boundaries’, leaving it up to you to figure out exactly what that means. Are you allowed to ski in the resort’s woodland? If you go just to the side of the marked areas, will your policy be valid? Before purchasing travel insurance, ask the individual provider about the specific limitations and how they define ‘resort boundaries’. And if you’re planning going off-piste, make sure you have specialist winter sports cover because if you are involved in an accident, you might face steep medical bills if inadequate travel insurance cover was in place.

Delayed ski season? Don’t get caught out on your last day on the slopes. Weather predictions suggest we could still be experiencing snow in the UK in May, and if this spreads to Europe too, travellers could get caught out by a clause found in most winter sports policies which says you are covered only until April 31 in the Northern hemisphere and October 31 in the Southern hemisphere. Check your policy for any limitations on when you can claim for winter sports. Meanwhile, unpredictable weather conditions mean more travellers could be vulnerable to piste closures. Should you need to claim for piste closure, ensure you have obtained confirmation of the resort closure from the local representative – failure to do so could invalidate any claim.

Medical costs. While it might sound obvious, make sure your insurance policy covers private medical costs. These would be required if you had an accident on the slopes and had to be transported from a mountain to a hospital by helicopter. Without cover for private medical costs, you could be left with a huge bill.

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Picture Credit: "Skilaeufer Alpin". Licensed under CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons