No one likes to pay for insurance, but when you go on a winter sports trip, it's really important. So, what should you look for in an insurance plan?
As summer comes to an end and the days get shorter, many of us will start to think about winter vacations, especially ones that involve winter sports like skiing. Travel insurance is something that people often forget to plan for when they go on vacation, but if they want to do sports, it's really important.
Normal travel insurance probably won't cover winter sports to the level you need, and if something goes wrong, you could get stuck with a huge bill. So, what should you look for in an insurance plan?
- Accident Cover
No matter how good you are at skiing, going down a mountain at high speed is always more dangerous than just lying on a beach and getting a tan. And if you do get hurt, a mountainside isn't the easiest place for help to get to. If you're unlucky enough to need a mountain rescue or an airlift to the hospital, you'll have to pay thousands of dollars even before you get help. This kind of cost is likely to be excluded from a standard insurance policy, but it will be a part of most winter sports coverage.
- Equipment
Most winter sports require expensive gear, and theft is always a risk when there are valuables around. Your insurance should cover enough to replace all of your gear with brand-new items right there at the resort if you need to. Even if you plan to rent your equipment, the company that rents it to you will probably want insurance, and your own policy will probably be cheaper than the one they try to sell you.
- Liability
Even the best skiers and snowboarders can get into accidents that hurt other people. Even if you are not to blame for an accident, you could end up in court, which is usually a long and expensive process. A good insurance policy will cover the costs of any court cases and/or payments of compensation.
- End of the Trail
If bad weather (or warm weather!) closes the slopes and keeps you from skiing, your policy should pay you compensation to cover the costs of any pre-booked lessons or lift fees. Many policies will also pay you just for the inconvenience of not being able to ski.
- Off Piste
One last thing to keep in mind is that a standard policy for winter sports will probably only cover you if you get hurt while skiing on a marked trail. If you want to go off-piste, make sure your insurance covers it. You may have to pay an extra fee.
Paying for travel insurance can seem like a waste of money, just like most other kinds of insurance. But if you have an accident on a mountain, the costs can be very scary, and you'll be glad you took the time to make sure you had enough coverage ahead of time.
