Why skiers should beware snowballing medical bills

HITTING the slopes soon? Make sure you have the right cover, as winter sports-related claims can cost anything £1,000 to £90,000, according to insurers. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) warns that, without the right cover, having an accident “on piste” could send your holiday spiralling downhill.

ABTA recently estimated that up to a third do not check whether their travel insurance covers winter sports before heading up the mountain, and is urging holidaymakers not to put their skis on before they are absolutely sure they have the right insurance in place.

Some of the typical costs if you break a bone on the mountain include £8,000-£12,000 (medical costs), £600 (mountain rescue) £2,000 (transfers or flights). If an an air ambulance is needed, this can add £10,000 to the bill.

The ABI says in one recent claim, a holidaymaker had a serious fall, fracturing their rib and puncturing a lung, leading to a 14-day stay in hospital and requiring a doctor escort on their flight back to the UK. The entire claim cost £90,000. In another case, a young skier damaged a knee ligament. After treatment, he was unable to travel home by coach as planned, so his insurer paid out over £3,800 to cover the medical costs and an alternative flight home. And a customer who broke their wrist while skiing in America landed total costs of £38,000, covered by the insurer.

Mark Shepherd, assistant director, head of property, commercial and specialist lines, at the ABI, says: “With thousands of ski-related injuries happening every year, dedicated winter sports insurance cover is essential for anyone thinking of skiing, or indeed snowboarding, this winter.”