Heading off to the slopes? Check you’re insured first

THE blanket of snow which covered much of the UK recently may have inspired some to book a winter sports holiday. But before heading for the slopes, it’s worth checking you’re properly covered for your trip.

Insight from financial information business Defaqto suggests many enthusiasts may be left out of pocket, unless they fully understand the travel cover they have purchased. Just 12% of the single trip travel insurance policies on the market cover winter sports as standard, while 9% don’t offer any winter sports cover at all, it found.

Brian Brown, head of insight at Defaqto, says: “Winter sports holidays can be much riskier than a standard beach holiday as you are more likely to get a serious injury or damage expensive ski equipment. If you are planning a winter sports break, it’s vital you check your insurance covers you for this.”

Meanwhile, less than one in five (18%) annual policies include winter sports cover as standard – so annual policy holders in particular need to be wary of assuming they’re covered for different types of holidays. Three in 10 (29%) single trip policies, which offer winter sports cover either as standard or as an optional extra, do not offer any cover whatsoever for a lost ski pass, Defaqto cautions.

Should there be any piste closures due to a lack of or too much snow, only half (50%) of policies which offer winter sport cover as standard or as an optional extra will only offer between £10 to £20 for each day lost.

The more advanced and adventurous skiers and boarders also need to be aware what their policy allows when going off-piste. Of the single trip insurance policies that offer winter sports cover on some basis, 13% do not allow off-piste skiing at all; however the majority allow “restricted” off-piste skiing, often requiring a professional guide to accompany the policyholder or limiting the areas they can ski in a resort.