Ski insurance – get it on time and feel free to create magic in the snow

Before going on any skiing trip, you need to familiarize yourself intimately with your country’s health care system and how to get ski insurance. Accidents can happen to absolutely anyone, and being stretchered off to hospital can be very expensive (not to mention the medical treatment costs once you’re there), depending on the severity of your injury. In the event that you require a costly operation, in certain countries they won’t operate on you if you aren’t insured nor have insufficient funds. Some injuries involve hospitalization for several days at a time, or further operations and rehabilitation in order to recover completely. If you aren’t lucky enough to live in a country with free healthcare, be sure to check whether you have valid health insurance which will also be your ski insurance.

Holiday ski insurance tips

Don’t leave your country without adequate health and travel insurance, even if it’s simply to go sightseeing, not to mention skiing. Occasionally an injured skier will need to decline being airlifted to hospital via helicopter because they aren’t insured, and they can’t afford it on their own. Imagine how much pain such people must suffer, and how much the risk of permanent consequences will increase due to their arrival at hospital being delayed. If such a person also doesn’t have money for costly medical treatment bills, he or she must suffer the pain until they arrive home in their own country.

Transportation via helicopter is very expensive

Imagine such a scenario where an uninsured injured person doesn’t have any choice but to undergo emergency rescue and transport from a mountaintop, with medical treatment and an operation in a foreign country, followed by emergency transport back to his or her native country. If such a person doesn’t have considerable sums of money in his or her account, they’re in big trouble.

Not all insurance companies offer the same conditions, so when choosing travel and health insurance, choose from companies that are well-known and respected.

When you sign your ski insurance policy, be sure to clearly state that you are a skier, and that your intention is to go skiing because many travel insurance policies don’t cover injuries that are caused by engaging in sports. If you’re skiing or snowboarding professionally, and frequently travel to competitions, a regular ski travel or health insurance policy won’t be valid. You’ll need to opt for a more expensive policy – for a professional athlete.

You need to read your winter ski insurance policy carefully to know what it covers, and what to do and who to call if you need help. You must carry your ski insurance documentation with you at all times (including on the mountain).

Additional skiing insurance advices

Apart from your travel/health insurance policy (ski insurance), it is also worthwhile insuring your luggage. Such insurance covers stolen luggage or damage inflicted during travel and journeys abroad. Bear in mind that it’s in the insurance company’s interest to make money, and nobody will get the better of them, so you need to thoroughly check the conditions of your insurance policy. In many instances, the insured won’t receive a payout for lost or stolen luggage if they fail to include a police report as part of their claim. Find some more useful tips about ski holiday insurance in every way in our skiing system that will give you piece during your snow activities!

Do not let your own mistakes and irresponsibility spoil your holiday and winter in the snow, just because you haven’t got your ski insurance. In our The Truth about Skiing and Snowboarding skiing system you can read all about how to get your ski insurance and let the winter magic and snow fill your imagination without unnecessary bother. Be reasonable, especially if you are going to ski abroad and if you take kids with you and get adequate ski travel insurance for whole members of your family!

Remember that there is special ski insurance for freeride (backcountry) skiing that is described in the book, too.