10 January 2024

Are you off to the slopes and need travel insurance that will cover skiing?

We compare wintersports insurance for your holiday including those that will cover families and off-piste skiing

According to ABTA, a third of travellers take a skiing or other winter sports holiday without the correct insurance. That is quite a shocking statistic! Not all travel insurance policies will automatically cover you for skiing, snowboarding or other winter activities - most insurers require you to add on Wintersports cover. At MoneyMaxim we can offer quotes for winter sports insurance.

ABTA points out that one of the largest groups who fail to get the correct cover for their skiing holiday is families. Needing a medical evacuation and hospital bills abroad can be extremely expensive so, if your family is not covered and one of you has an accident, something that should be a wonderful family experience can turn into a nightmare. Make sure your loved ones have cover for all the winter activities they are involved in whether that be skiing, snowboarding or tobogganing.

Why do I need travel insurance for my skiing holiday?

Being uninsured can leave winter sports enthusiasts heavily out of pocket - claims can easily run into the £1000s.. Many people presume that the GHIC card is enough cover but that will only provide you with the same level of state medical care as locals are entitled to. It is not equivalent to private medical cover. It is a good idea to have one but it will not cover you if you need to be carried off the mountainside or airlifted to hospital.

Medical bills can be even more extortionate in the US and Canada and as these are two countries where family ski holidays are popular, we would recommend comparing ski travel insurance to find a policy that will cover you all for your North American trip.

What do I need to consider when choosing ski holiday insurance?

The crucial factor when comparing wintersports travel insurance is making sure it suits all your demands and needs. There is little point in taking out a policy that will not cover you for off-piste skiing if you are a confident skier and are planning to go off-piste. Similarly, if you want to try out a terrain park you will need a policy which offers you cover for using the ramps and rails in a snowpark.

When choosing a travel insurance policy for your winter holiday take a look at what each policy will cover. There are several that can cover off-piste but they stipulate that you ski with a guide and stay within resort boundaries. Does the policy insist you wear a helmet? If so make sure you wear one as, if you unfortunately have an accident and you are not wearing one, your insurance may be void. There are likely to be other points such as where your skis should be kept when not in use.

There are plenty of ski travel insurance options to choose from but just make sure that whichever policy you opt to go with, you are aware of all the rules so you do not find yourself without cover.

So whatever your level of skiing experience - an adventurous off-piste skier or a complete novice - or indeed if you want to ski but have a pre-existing medical condition, we are here to help.