Travel insurance to incl skiing for a week?

FairyElephant_2

Hi,

We currently have a bank account which gives us travel insurance, but this does not cover 'winter sports'.

We're going skiing for a week, but to add 'winter sports' to our annual policy will cost us £50!

I looked on travel supermarket and found a policy for just this trip which is £22 for me & DH.

Is this a good price for this sort of policy? It sounds like a good deal to me - but what do I need to look at specifically as reagrds skiing? (never been before!).

Thanks for your advice,

FE

mjon3105

Price wise it is good; be sure it offers a 24hours emergency assistance service and that it covers you for "Unlimited" Get You Home cover in event of any accident (though I am sure it will be a carefree holiday). Best to have a policy with a recognised insurer which is a member of ABI (Assn of British Insurers) or Lloyds. Look for minimum minimum £1 million pounds medical expenses if you are travelling to a worldwide ski destination eg: North America (most policies will offer more anyway). IF you are ski ing in Europe, you need also take with you an EHIC European Health Insurance Card to supplement your ski cover but do NOT rely on this even if medical treatment was "free" because such card never covers expensive repatriation costs. Be sure that your chosen activities are covered (inc off piste if applicable to you) as many policies only cover standard ski risks for basic premium and you may need extra coverage for some of the more "dangerous" risks. No simple answer here as policy coverage for these risks vary from one insurer to another; some can be included in the premium, others exclude same unless additional premium taken.

You will probably have access by now to a copy of the "Insurance Policy" either a paper copy or an online one, so all of the info you need (as above) should be included therein. Also check what coverage if any exists for Public Liability risks. If you were to crash into a foreign Prince or an American lawyer who was badly injured you could have a large claim against you,so better be safe than sorry though again the risk of that happening is very very small and a good ski Policy should include this as "standard"....


BUT above all make sure you are covered for what YOU need and do NOT be "misled" by cheap premiums . You need best available cover for any risks you undertake at a competitive price but "cheapest" is NOT always the best and there are many many sad cases known to organisations like the Foreign Office where "grossly underinsured" persons or those relying on EHIC(former ly E111) have had to repay thousands of pounds for an air ambulance in event of a serious injury.

There are many many very good ski specialist insurers some of whom are mentioned in Martin's advice and thread on "Travel Insurance" elsewhere in MSE

Enjoy the trip ......wherever you are going....