About one-third of all skiers do not purchase insurance, and thereby open themselves up to the risk of owing literally thousands of dollars of medical and/or rescue bills in the event of an accident.
Murphy’s Law would suggest that what can go wrong, will go wrong, and skiing is no exception; consider issues such as baggage loss, stolen or broken equipment, personal liability in the event of an accident that requires repatriation/restoration, and even things like piste closure that you may not have thought about, all of which can cost you money.
That’s why it is recommended that you invest in some insurance that will cover your skiing trip. How can you choose, however, from the tremendous range of polices out there?
First, think about the kind of skier you are. Even the cheapest policies of insurance can cover those folks who are at a beginning or inexperienced level, and who plan to stick to the piste. Such policy prices start at approximately $30 and can be bought direct from the travel agent you book your holiday with or even from some supermarkets.
More advanced skiers who will be doing off-piste, heli-skiing or cat-skiing will need policies that cover those activities. Premiums can be significantly more expensive in line with the increased risk or danger and you should expect to have to use a specialist insurance provider to be fully covered.
The next thing to consider is how much you’re covered for. Within a policy of insurance, there can be different bands of coverage, whether or not your activities change. An example of a premium policy would be coverage of up to a million dollars for medical expenses, whereas for losses under a basic policy, you would be covered up to $250,000. Also, pay attention to the excess payments required on any claims made; they can be quite substantial on cheaper policies.
Whichever type of policy and level of coverage you do go for, be sure to buy your insurance in advance of your holiday, or it will be invalid. An insurance company will protect its interests by making sure you have documentation that proves you had your insurance in place prior to any accident occurring.
Finally, be informed about your coverage by reading the policy thoroughly, particularly the fine print, to make sure it covers what you need it to cover. Read through it thoroughly before signing the contract and ask questions about any aspects of it that you’re unsure about.
Want to know more? Click here to continue reading our guide to skiing: Learn To Ski
Mark_Thomas_Walters
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