AVOID SKI COVER PITFALLS
SKIERS who see themselves more as James Bond than Eddie the Eagle still need to make insurance a priority before they head for the slopes.
Both confident and nervous skiers suffer serious tumbles that can cost a packet in medical bills. Lost and stolen kit, or a cancelled trip, are just as painful on the pocket.
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
WINTER pursuits claim their share of accident victims. The Government has recorded 58 British deaths and thousands more injuries resulting from snow sports accidents in Europe in the past four years alone. Despite the risks, a third of travellers never check if they have adequate insurance cover, according to new Foreign & Commonwealth Office research.
Slips on the slopes can be costly, especially when skiing off-piste in remote areas. Piste rescue charges start at about £400 in Europe, while being in a remote area or suffering a certain type of injury may require a helicopter, which can cost from £1,500. Medical repatriation from Europe can cost £10,000 and four times that from the US.
Tempting as it is to pick the cheapest ski insurance policy, it could let you down in a crisis. Kevin Pratt, of price comparison website Moneysupermarket, says: ‘It is important to check the amount of cover and examine exclusions and restrictions.
‘Many winter sports policies do not cover off-piste skiing, or they might stipulate skiers must be accompanied by a guide. Some sports, such as ski jumping, heli-skiing and snow-mobiling, may not be covered, or only if you pay extra.’
Some insurers demand policyholders take out a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), a free card obtained before travelling to European countries, which entitles travellers to state medical treatment on the same terms as locals. Having a card means the insurer can keep down premiums or waive excesses – the amount paid by a policyholder towards a claim.
The card will not cover rescue or repatriation costs – nor is it valid outside Europe. If a rescue team delivers a skier to a private clinic, common at many ski resorts, the card will not be accepted.
COMPARE PREMIUMS
AS A rough guide, a week-long single-trip policy covering a family of four in Europe costs just £15 from Insure and Go. Its Light policy provides unlimited medical costs, £300 for lost equipment and £1,000 for a trip cancellation.
For a skiing trip to the US, cover starts at £39. A policy with ERV Travel Insurance provides £5million of medical expenses, £500 for lost equipment and £750 for a trip cancellation. An annual multi-trip policy covering Europe starts at £31 from Insurefor. This provides £5 million of medical expenses, £500 for equipment and £750 for cancellation. For the US cover costs £60 from Cheaper travel insurance, which provides £15million of medical cover, £200 for equipment and £750 for cancellation.
Annual plans limit the number of days that winter sports are included – often to no more than 17. So check all planned trips are covered. Travel days can sometimes eat into the limit. Age may also be an issue with 65 often the maximum accepted. The Ski Club of Great Britain will cover skiers up to the age of 75, while Saga says it has no age limit.
CONSIDER EQUIPMENT
SUNGLASSES and salopettes, skis and snowboards, boots and other accessories can add up to £800 for the true snow sports enthusiast, according to the Ski Club. But it found that few skiers protect their possessions, even though one in eight will lose or have kit stolen this season. Nearly a third of holidaymakers leave skis and boards unattended while enjoying lunch or apres-ski while two thirds fail to mark their equipment.
Frank McCusker, chief executive of the Ski Club, says: ‘It is simple to minimise your chances of becoming a victim of theft. Use ski lockers or boot rooms, mark kit with your personal details so it can be returned if lost and note down the serial number of your skis, even if they are hired.’
Check the level of cover for lost or stolen equipment on a policy and increase it if it falls short.
The Ski Club offers £750 of cover on its standard policy. This costs £35 for a week in Europe for a family of four and £88 for a multi-trip policy.
Cover increases to £2,000 on its Platinum plan. For £210, a family of four can buy annual membership to the Ski Club that also includes a European multi-trip Platinum plan.
Policy buyers can adjust cover to other elements of a ski policy. Pratt says: ‘If you have booked luxury accommodation, you might want to increase the cancellation cover.
‘You should certainly have a minimum of £5million of medical cover and the same for personal liability cover, in case you are deemed responsible for an accident on the slopes. I would opt for £10million each of medical and liability cover for the US for a winter sports holiday because costs there are so high.’
When buyers run a quote for ski insurance on a comparison website they usually have the option to adjust levels of cover. Pratt says: ‘You will see premiums increase if choosing higher limits, but travel insurance is great value at the moment.’
BEWARE EXCLUSIONS
ALCOHOL is a key ingredient of apres-ski fun. But insurers can use it to wriggle out of claims if it is apparent a policyholder was drinking before an accident.
Pratt says: ‘This exclusion applies to all travel insurance, but is particularly important for winter sports holidays given the hazardous nature of the sport. It is best to avoid drinking before you hit the slopes.’