Ski insurance has always been an essential element of any winter sports holiday, but having the right cover in place is now more important than ever. With EHIC cards potentially no longer of value to visitors to the EU after December 2020 and concerns around COVID cover, it pays to be well informed.
Is it safe to buy cheap ski insurance?
Ski holiday insurance is definitely a purchase where we would prioritise value over price. Conditions and exclusions can swiftly make a low cost insurance purchase a very expensive choice. For example, conditions governing cancellation and curtailment can vary enormously. If you’re ill, your costs should be covered, but if you have to cut short your holiday because a dependent is ill your claim might be declined.
Additionally, some policies exclude off-piste skiing and snowboarding entirely. You may think this means being in the back of beyond in waist deep powder, it may simply mean having strayed a few metres away from the main slopes to have a gentle play in the fluffy stuff. You will also need to show that you followed a resort’s off-piste guidance, taking account of any local advice and weather.
Check what is really covered, don’t assume
Before buying insurance it is worth considering any of activities other than skiing or snowboarding you might take part in whilst away. That tempting parapenting or snowmobiling trip may or may not be covered by standard policies. The devil, as ever, is in the detail and it is worth reading the policy documents in full, nobody ever wants to but it does avoid finding out when it’s too late. Additionally, levels of cover on owned or rented ski and snowboarding equipment can vary enormously.
Liability insurance is a key consideration when choosing cover, along with emergency medical expenses, it is the most important element of a winter sports policy. Most policies have similar clauses, but there are two to watch out for.
- Firstly, your policy must cover any damage you may cause due to your negligence (a mistake) to temporary holiday accommodation.
- Secondly, some policies will not accept a claim where this has been brought by a travelling companion claiming against you.
What about the effects of Covid 19
Coronavirus insurance cover is a tricky and fast evolving topic. Our chosen insurance partner, MPI Brokers, covers Emergency Medical Expenses if you contract Coronavirus Overseas.
However, we don’t currently know of any policies that will cover you if your home or destination countries go into lock-down. Most policies will not provide cover for COVID-19, if the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) are advising against all but essential travel to your destination due to the virus. However, MPI does allow travel to a country under an FCO warning and cover is in place as normal other than for the reason for the warning.
Most of the time you won’t need your insurance, which is definitely a good thing! But when you do, you’ll be very glad you have it … as long as you have the right policy in place.
Credits: MPI Brokers
