Ski injuries are on the rise and can involve costly medical bills but alarmingly 75% of skiers have inadequate insurance.
According to Aviva ski insurance claims have risen by 40%, with the average medical bill now nearly £1,500.
- It is estimated that over 30% of snowboarders are likely to make a claim at sometime and
- 25%of them have suffered some sort of injury
Why are winter sports enthusiasts so poorly insured?
There are a number of reasons for this, one of which is simply ignorance of what insurance policies will or will not cover. Some people have the misguided belief that winter sports are covered under any travel insurance, which in reality they are not. A quarter of holidaymakers believe they are covered by the free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Also, the cost of insurance is also citied as another reason for people not taking out adequate cover.
Why skiers need travel insurance
A good travel insurance policy can cover up to £2m worth of medical expenses, will meet the cost of repatriation to the UK if required along with a variety of other needs that may arise in an emergency. For example you would be covered for personal liability in the event you caused injury to another person or damage to their property.
So what should I look for in a travel insurance policy
Firstly read my guide Seventeen tips to ensure you have the best travel insurance policy One important thing to note is that your travel insurance to include winter sports cover, which is usually an add-on.
So here is a list of things to check when taking out a new travel insurance policy or reviewing an existing policy:
- Does the policy cover winter sports and in particular the type of sports in which you will engage, also check if there are any caveats
- Is there a limit to the number of days skiing which are covered
- Is the full value of your equipment covered for theft and accidental damage
- Some policies might exclude accidents as a result of alcohol consumption
- Does the policy payout in the event that the pistes are closed
