Travel insurance specialist Columbus Direct have warned winter sports holiday makers that if they’re uninsured and unlucky on their ski holiday they could face bills of up to £10,000 in Europe and £40,000 in North America, and in Europe the free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) may not be much help. Columbus Direct warn:
• Anyone relying no their free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for cover may be disappointed if their ski resort has a private clinic which won’t accept it. It is unlikely to cover the cost of emergency rescue from the piste either if you’re unlucky enough to need that.
• The biggest potential cost on any ski holiday is the cost of medical treatment if required – it’s best to get a policy with a specific winter sports section that covers these and things like lost lift pass, ski equipment and missed ski school classes.
• There’s a growing number of winter sports holiday activities offered by resorts and many may not be covered by insurance, even winter sports insurance, so it’s important to check first. Skiing off piste, in the terrain park, heli-skiing, snowmobiling or even ice-skating or tubing may not be covered. If in doubt, always check with your insurer first.
• The après ski is almost as important as time on the slopes, but most policies exclude claims arising when people are under the influence of alcohol.
“I have recently recovered from my third leg break of my career so I know how dangerous winter sports can be,” said Olympic athlete Chemmy Alcott, “Winter sports enthusiasts enjoy the adrenaline rush that the sport can deliver but there is a greater accident risk on the slopes than on the beach which is why travel insurance is so important, even for the fittest skiers.”
“I recommend checking that the winter sports add-on has been included in travel insurance and that this provides the specialist cover that suits the planned activity. Without insurance, people can be left with large bills to pay, even if they have an EHIC,” said Greg Lawson, Head of Retail at Columbus Direct,
“Whatever the winter sport we would encourage everyone to take appropriate safety precautions when on the slopes; and recommend wearing helmets and other protective gear. Falling onto compacted snow on the piste at speed can be like landing on concrete, so it’s worth the investment.”
“We want our customers to have a great holiday but also to be aware of the potential risks so that they maximise their time on the slopes, rather than spend it in a hospital bed.”
The specialist travel insurer has recently launched Columbus Ski – a new range of enhanced winter sports insurance options.
