Is running a marathon on holiday covered by normal insurance?

hbk619

I'm off to Disney World to run the half marathon in January as part of a 5 day break, does anyone know if getting hurt in this would be covered by standard holiday insurance? (i.e. the best buys on the site).

Also I seriously sprained/tore a few ligaments in my ankle last week getting run over by a horse (ironically while on holiday), as I'm doing a running event would my insurance need to be away of that? (as in would they try to get out of paying any possible costs if I don't tell them and injure the same ankle as it could be seen as weaker).

I'm gonna call one of the better deals I found on travelsupermarket tomorrow but hoping someone here has some experience of this.

dacouch

They might ask if you get any Disney spells

whitewing

Da insurance may not cover da ankle but dis knee may be ok.

(sorry, I don't know the sensible answer)

weighty1_2

I'm simply say make sure you use a reputable insurer and not some Mickey Mouse outfit!!!


(sorry, I've got no idea)

forgotmyname

Something Goofy going on here.

Non disclosure will see you with no cover and you dont want to be in the
US with no medical cover.

hbk619

Seems sportscoverdirect's activity top up might be my best option (pay £20 for the one day I do the marathon then use a normal insurer for the rest of the holiday), spoke to another company and the sprain needs to be declared but didn't increase the premium. For others wondering the same thing insureandaway did cover for 6 days for less than £30 including the marathon. Boots lists running as a covered activity but no mention of marathon. Nice responses though

Slowhand

Ah disney know.

rs65

hbk619 wrote: »

does anyone know if getting hurt in this would be covered by standard holiday insurance?

Most policies list sports/activities. I've looked at a couple and there is no consistency about marathon running.

Have a look at the full policy wording you are considering and see what it says.

I would think your injury would be considered an existing condition and have to be disclosed. Read the health declaration very carefully.

jonesMUFCforever

If you are going there specifically to run half marathon I would suggest ordinary travel insurance will not cover you at all.

olly300

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

If you are going there specifically to run half marathon I would suggest ordinary travel insurance will not cover you at all.

Actually some ordinary travel insurers do cover you for running up to marathon distance but others don't it depends on the insurer - there is no blanket rule.

Participation in running events aren't considered doing dangerous sports so many sports extensions which are add-ons to standard travel insurance will cover you.

However as your event is not in Europe (mine were) then the OP needs to check the small print of the insurance to see if you are covered in the US and Canada. The US and Canada have different insurance requirements due to the cost of the medical treatment there.

OP what is the medical prognosis of your ligament injury?

The point I'm trying to make is if you have not been able to weight bear on your ankle for more than 3 days and have to spend over a week being immobile due to the pain rather than what the doctors/nurses/sports physio has told you to do, then yes you are going to have to tell the insurer as there is a likelihood you will pull out of the event due to not being able to train properly and not go on your holiday.

I've injured my ankles about 5 times to varying degrees. Initial recovery time took anything from 6 weeks to 3 months.

With the 3 month injury I couldn't weight bear for nearly 2 weeks and it took me a full year to gain decent proprioception in my ankle. I was not able to do any kind of sporting activity for a further 2 months after that. Even now I have to wear a splint/strapping if I'm doing any sports that involve side-to-side movement on that ankle.

With the injuries that have taken 6-8 weeks to recover from I was limping around (to the physios' horror) days after, doing sporting activity as soon as the swelling went down and I was fine running up to half-marathon distance 6 months later.